Development and evaluation of an online infertility peer supporter training program

The effects of nursing care based on Levine's Conservation Model on fatigue, depression, perceived social support, and sleep quality in infertile women: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nursing care based on the Levine's Conservation Model on depression caused by infertility, fatigue, perceived social support, and sleep quality levels.

METHODS

This study includes randomized controlled trial that was conducted from July 2019 to April 2020, with 65 Turkish women with infertility (experimental group: 34, control group: 31). We collected data using the Visual Similarity Scale for Fatigue, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Beck's Depression Inventory, and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale. The experimental group received nursing care based on the Levine's Conservation Model. Data were analyzed using t-tests and χ2 tests analyses.

FINDINGS

As a result of the measurements made, it was found that the experimental group had a lower fatigue level than the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). It was also found that the experimental group had higher energy and perceived social support scores than the control group after the practice, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). As a result of the measurements made after the practice, it was found that the experimental group had a lower depression level than the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Nursing care based on the Levine's Conservation Model decreased fatigue and depression in women receiving infertility treatment and increased perceived social support and sleep.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This research provides important findings about nursing care based on Levine's Conservation Model for women receiving infertility treatment. It decreased depression and fatigue and increased perceived social support and sleep quality.

Success factors of evidence-based training for pilots

Training pilots is a long-lasting and important task for the aviation safety and proper operation of airlines. Evidence-Based Training (EBT) is proposed as one of the best alternatives for pilot training. This study identified the need of EBT in terms of non-technical performance training for pilots. The purpose of this paper is to identify the need to introduce a new training system, the EBT model, and to assess and verify its performance by operating airlines to assist in decision making by airlines considering the introduction of EBT. A total of 1003 people were subjected to the study, including 557 captains and 446 co-pilots of each model who responded to the survey conducted after EBT. Results of the survey were analyzed through multiple regression analysis to confirm the validity of this model, and the pilots who were trained were also satisfied with EBT. The results show that the training program information and the system quality have a positive effect on the satisfaction of the trainee and the enhancement of the trainee's perceived ability. The results of this research contribute a positive basis for EBT. The implication of this study is that the proper provision of training program and the better system could support the performance of training for pilots.

An Integrative Review on the Feasibility and Acceptability of Delivering an Online Training and Mentoring Module to Volunteers Working in Community Organizations

Background: Volunteer programs that support older persons can assist them in accessing healthcare in an efficient and effective manner. Community-based initiatives that train volunteers to support patients with advancing illness is an important advance for public health. As part of implementing an effective community-based volunteer-based program, volunteers need to be sufficiently trained. Online training could be an effective and safe way to provide education for volunteers in both initial training and/or continuing education throughout their involvement as a volunteer.

Method: We conducted an integrative review that synthesized literature on online training programs for volunteers who support older adults. The review included both a search of existing research literature in six databases, and an online search of online training programs currently being delivered in Canada. The purpose of this review was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of community-based organizations adopting an online training format for their volunteers.

Results: The database search identified 13,626 records, these went through abstract and full text screen resulting in a final 15 records. This was supplemented by 2 records identified from hand searching the references, for a total of 17 articles. In addition to identifying Volunteers Roles and Responsibilities; Elements of Training; and Evaluation of Feasibility and Acceptability; a thematic analysis of the 17 records identified the categories: (1) Feasibility Promoting Factors; (2) Barriers to Feasibility; (3) Acceptability Promoting Factors; and (4) Barriers to Acceptability. Six programs were also identified in the online search of online training programs. These programs informed our understanding of delivery of existing online volunteer training programs.

Discussion: Findings suggested that feasibility and acceptability of online training were promoted by (a) topic relevant training for volunteers; (b) high engagement of volunteers to prevent attrition; (c) mentorship or leadership component. Challenges to online training included a high workload; time elapsed between training and its application; and client attitude toward volunteers. Future research on online volunteer training should consider how online delivery can be most effectively paced to support volunteers in completing training and the technical skills needed to complete the training and whether teaching these skills can be integrated into programs.

An mHealth App to Support Fertility Patients Navigating the World of Infertility (Infotility): Development and Usability Study

Background

The experience of infertility and its treatment engenders considerable stress and is often described as an emotional rollercoaster. A mobile health (mHealth) app may be a novel solution to address the psychoeducational and psychosocial support needs of fertility patients because of its potential to reduce stress and increase patient empowerment. There are a few fertility-related apps that provide information and support to both men and women undergoing fertility treatment; however, none have documented their development and evaluation process.

Objective

This study aims to describe the development and evaluation process of a bilingual mHealth app, Infotility, designed to meet the psychoeducational and psychosocial support needs of men and women undergoing fertility treatment.

Methods

To develop the Infotility app, we adhered to the Medical Research Council guidelines for the development and evaluation of complex interventions. First, we conducted literature reviews and needs assessment surveys of fertility patients and health care providers who informed the content and design of the app. Second, we tested the intervention with a small group of end users who provided feedback on the design and appropriateness of the app’s content. Third, we evaluated the uptake and usability of the app using a pre-post study design. Finally, we updated the app’s content based on participants’ feedback and searched for partners to disseminate the app to the broader public.

Results

This study is the first to describe the development and evaluation process of an mHealth app for men and women undergoing fertility treatment. The app met its goal in providing fertility patients with a clinician-approved, portable resource for reliable information about medical and psychosocial aspects of infertility and its treatments and a confidential peer support forum monitored by trained peer supporters. Participants rated the engagement, functionality, information, and esthetics of the app positively, with an overall app quality mean score of 3.75 (SD 0.53) and a star rating of 3.43 (SD 0.75), with a total possible score and star rating of 5.00.

Conclusions

By documenting the systematic development and evaluation of the mHealth app for men and women undergoing fertility treatment, this paper can facilitate the replication of the study intervention and the development of similar mHealth apps.

'How did you cope with such concerns?': insights from a monitored online infertility peer support forum

The Research Question posed was 'What coping strategies do fertility patients and trained peer supporters discuss in an online infertility peer support forum?' A thematic analysis was used to examine 244 online posts from a sample of 39 users (37 women and two men) for themes in coping with fertility-related stressors. Data were collected from Connect, a monitored online discussion forum with trained peer supporters. Connect users ranged from 27 to 44 years of age (mean = 34.38) and 33 (84.6%) were nulliparous at the time of the study. A variety of cognitive-reappraisal and practical management coping strategies was discussed across four themes: (i) balancing interpersonal relationships; (ii) partner support; (iii) uncertainty and lack of control; and (iv) positivity and negativity. Experiences of uncertainty and lack of control related to time and schedule, outcomes and waiting for physical symptoms, and the clinic. Connect users commonly discussed the helpfulness of coping strategies. Connect users actively requested experiential information about ways of coping from other patients and peer supporters, highlighting the importance of lived experience to those currently in treatment. Findings support conceptualizations of infertility coping as a process that is unique to the infertility treatment context and that may change throughout a patient's treatment. Trained peer supporters may benefit fertility patients by normalizing, reappraising, and providing practical strategies to ameliorate difficult infertility-related challenges.

Information needs of people seeking fertility services in Canada: a mixed methods analysis

Background

Infertility is a challenging experience associated with high levels of psychological distress. Many people seeking fertility services use the internet to obtain information about their conditions and treatments.

Objectives

This mixed-methods study aimed to describe the information-seeking experience of people seeking fertility services with respect to the fulfillment of their individually defined information needs and explore relationships between the fulfillment of information needs and psychological outcomes.

Methods

One hundred and four participants completed a survey with close-ended and open-ended questions about their experience using an informational web-based application (app) called ‘Infotility’ and about their mental well-being before and after using the app. The questionnaires administered were the The Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS), the Fertility Quality of Life questionnaire (FertiQol), the Patient Empowerment Questionnaire (PEQ) and the General Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7). Eleven participants completed in-depth qualitative interviews about their experience using the app. A thematic analysis was used to interpret qualitative results and quantitization was used to dichotomize participants into those with met information needs versus those with unmet information needs. Google Analytics was used to compare participants’ reported experience with their actual use of the app.

Results

The results of this study show that there is variability in the amount of information that people seeking fertility services wish to receive. Participants whose information needs were met reported improved psychological outcomes after using the app, while those with unmet needs showed no change in their psychological outcomes.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that fulfilling information needs was associated with improved psychological outcomes in people seeking fertility services. Our results also suggest that individual differences in information needs should be considered when developing health educational materials.

Research-supported mobile applications and internet-based technologies to mediate the psychological effects of infertility: a review

Infertility is a chronic condition commonly accompanied by psychological and emotional distress. A significant contributor to the discontinuation of infertility treatment is the psychological burden of treatment. Many individuals experiencing infertility report high levels of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, barriers to traditional individual and couples counselling include stigmatization, finances, trepidation, challenges of travel and uncertainty. New technology, such as mobile applications and internet-based programmes, may be a feasible option for reducing the emotional distress of infertility diagnoses and treatments. This review focuses on current and developing technologies designed to decrease emotional distress in individuals with infertility.