Psychosocial services for couples in infertility treatment: What do couples really want?

Abstract Objectives To describe the psychosocial supports that infertile couples desire to help cope with infertility-related distress, which psychosocial services they sought, and the benefits and drawbacks of these services. Methods Qualitative interview study with 32 heterosexual infertile couple...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Patient education and counseling 2014-03, Vol.94 (3), p.390-395
Main Authors: Read, Suzanne C, Carrier, Marie-Eve, Boucher, Marie-Eve, Whitley, Robert, Bond, Sharon, Zelkowitz, Phyllis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Coping strategies
Counseling - methods
Counselling
Desire
Female
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Infertility
Infertility - psychology
Internal Medicine
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Nursing
Patient education
Peer support
Psychological distress
Psychosocial intervention
Psychosocial support
Qualitative Research
Social Support
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Abstract Objectives To describe the psychosocial supports that infertile couples desire to help cope with infertility-related distress, which psychosocial services they sought, and the benefits and drawbacks of these services. Methods Qualitative interview study with 32 heterosexual infertile couples seeking infertility treatment. Maximum variation sampling was used; data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Most couples desired psychosocial support, but only half of the sample sought support. Some couples met with psychologists for help with relationship conflict and coping strategies. Participants suggested peer mentoring to fulfill needs for coping, shared experience, and guidance through the treatment process. Couples also desired written information about practical and emotional aspects of treatment. Negative attitudes toward psychological counseling and a lack of information about support services prevented some couples from seeking support. Conclusions Infertile couples expressed numerous needs for psychosocial supports, but often felt that supports were not available. A variety of services should be offered in order to fulfill patients’ varied needs. Practice implications Awareness of the reasons why patients desire psychosocial services will help clinicians to refer patients to currently available psychosocial supports, and will aid in the development of appropriate supports, including couples counseling, peer mentoring, and written information in lay language.
ISSN:0738-3991
1873-5134
DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2013.10.025