ABSTRACT
Gonadotrophins are injected daily over several days in follicular stimulation protocols. To facilitate self-injection, various injection or reconstitution devices are available. It was investigated whether injection training enabled patients to choose their preferred device. Patients and their partners received nurse-led training about: powdered urofollitropin (Bravelle) with needle-free reconstitution (Q-Cap)and conventional needles and syringes for administration; follitropin beta (Follistim AQ) in a premixed, prefilled cartridge (Follistim AQ Cartridge) with a reusable injection device (Follistim Pen); or follitropin alfa (GONAL-f) in a disposable, premixed, prefilled injection device (GONAL-f RFF Pen). A total of 123 participants (81 women) attended the training and were asked to complete a questionnaire after training. More participants expressed a preference for a pen injection device than the needle-free reconstitution and conventional syringe (84.6% versus 5.7%; P < 0.0001). Of the 94 participants who preferred a particular device, more preferred the follitropin alfa prefilled pen (68.1%) than the follitropin beta cartridge and pen (24.5%; P < 0.0001) or urofollitropin with needle-free reconstitution device and conventional syringe (7.4%; P < 0.0001). It was concluded that nurse-led training classes empowered participants to choose a device that they considered most suitable to their needs.
Subject(s)
Fertilization in Vitro , Gonadotropins/administration & dosage , Ovulation Induction/methods , Patient Satisfaction , Female , Follicle Stimulating Hormone/administration & dosage , Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human/administration & dosage , Humans , Injections , Needles , Ovulation Induction/nursing , Patient Education as Topic , Urofollitropin/administration & dosageABSTRACT
The role of the infertility nurse is continually expanding and changing to meet the demands of couples undergoing assisted reproduction. This article examines the responsibilities infertility nurses have in ovulation induction programmes in fertility clinics today. A simple questionnaire was sent to all fertility units listed in The Patients' Guide to DI and IVF Clinics. There was a response rate of 71%. Specialist infertility units had a higher number of nurses available to carry out various tasks within the fertility programme compared with other types of staff. Members of the nursing staff were involved in initial consultation, transvaginal ultrasound scanning, intrauterine inseminations, administration of medication, sperm preparation and pregnancy tests. Infertility nurses played a major role in ovulation induction programmes. In 39% of units, nurses performed intrauterine inseminations alone, in 23% of units they made decisions as to the requirement for human chorionic gonadotrophin administration, and in over 77% of units transvaginal scans were done by nurses. This role could be even broader, assuming adequate training is provided and undertaken. The extended role of infertility nurse practitioners allows more continuity of care and better understanding of patients' needs and results in the involvement of fewer people in the overall care.
