Health care users’ and professionals’ perspectives and experiences in fertility treatment in Switzerland (Project HoPE)

Introduction and Aim: Infertility affects many people worldwide and can significantly impact the quality of life. It encompasses not only physical health but also emotional, mental, and social well-being. Understanding infertility and its influence is paramount for better healthcare interventions and policy formulation. Nursing science plays a crucial role in this context. The study aims to describe the perspectives, experiences, and needs of affected persons, as well as those of healthcare professionals.

Method and Results: To describe the current state of care and identify necessary changes, a mixed-methods research design was employed. The study comprised three phases. In Phase 1, a scoping review was conducted to gain an overview of various care models in the field of reproductive medicine, including the role of fertility nurses and midwives. In Phase 2, individuals who had undergone or were currently undergoing fertility treatment responded to a standardized questionnaire that addresses Quality of Life (FertiQoL), Spiritual Needs (SpNQ), and psychological Wellbeing (WHO-5), supplemented with sociodemographic information. Phase 3 involved qualitative face-to-face interviews with individuals and couples affected by infertility, along with group interviews in-volving healthcare professionals. For the quantitative phase, 337 individuals completed the questionnaire between October 2023 and January 2024. Due to a limited number of male participants (n=11), they were excluded from the analysis, leaving 326 female participants in the quantitative data analysis. In the qualitative phase, which took place from May to October 2024, a total of 26 participants were involved in individual and couples' interviews, and an additional 3 focus groups were conducted with healthcare professionals. Initial findings suggest that in-fertility treatment can be emotionally taxing, leading to a fluctuation between hope and despair for those undergoing it. Many individuals experiencing infertility feel isolated and turn to online communities for understanding and information, often feeling unsupported by their families and immediate surroundings. Healthcare providers in this field express a desire to enhance their knowledge and counseling skills to better support their patients. Furthermore, infertility treatment is often considered a privilege, with cost barriers preventing many from accessing it. Currently, the results are undergoing more in-depth analysis, with efforts to identify relevant correlations.

Conclusion: The project highlights a patient group that typically receives inadequate attention but frequently bears a substantial burden. It aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals experiencing infertility, particularly in the realm of mental health, both within Switzerland and globally. Additionally, the project seeks to clarify the roles of fertility providers, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the overall patient experience during the fertility journey.