Lessons Learned: Feasibility of a Discussion Prompting Tool to Increase Fertility Risk Discussion Among Adolescent Oncology Families

Authors

Devin Murphy, Jonathan Jacques Children’s Cancer CenterFollow
Caprice A. Knapp, University of FloridaFollow
Kelly K. Sawczyn, All Children’s Hospital – John’s Hopkins MedicineFollow
Susan T. Vadaparampil Ph.D, Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South FloridaFollow
Alice Rhoton-Vlasak, University of FloridaFollow
Gwendolyn P. Quinn, University of South FloridaFollow

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of distributing a prompting tool (stress egg) in order to increase discussions about fertility risk and preservation (FP) among female adolescent oncology patients, parents, and healthcare providers (HCP). 200 eggs were distributed to four pediatric oncology centers. Qualitative interviews were completed with healthcare staff (N=7) after 6 months of distribution to newly diagnosed female oncology patients ages 12-18. Interviews showed that the main barriers to distribution of the prompt were: forgetting to distribute the eggs; uncertainty about the significance of fertility; and uncertainty about fertility issues in general for female adolescent cancer patients. The scientific community must continually explore effective avenues of communication to ensure such information is received. The stress egg has potential to impact a cancer survivor’s outlook on future partnering, family life, and self-concept when used in conjunction with policy.

Keywords

Decision Prompt, Fertility, Pediatric Oncology, Discussion

Author Bio(s)

Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: Devin Murphy at, dmurphy@memorialcare.org.

Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: Caprice A. Knapp at, caprice1@ufl.edu.

Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: Kelly K. Sawczyn at, sawczyn@allkids.org.

Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: Susan T. Vadaparampil at, susan.vadaparampil@moffitt.org.

Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: Alice Rhoton-Vlasak at, rhotona@ufl.edu.

Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: Gwendolyn P. Quinn at, Gwendolyn.quinn@moffitt.org.

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the valued participation of the floor nurses who assisted in distributing these prompts.

Publication Date

1-4-2016

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2016.2446

Recommended APA Citation

Murphy, D., Knapp, C. A., Sawczyn, K. K., Vadaparampil, S. T., Rhoton-Vlasak, A., & Quinn, G. P. (2016). Lessons Learned: Feasibility of a Discussion Prompting Tool to Increase Fertility Risk Discussion Among Adolescent Oncology Families. The Qualitative Report, 21(1), 16-25. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2016.2446