[Application of the Green Model to lifestyle intervention in male sterility patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of the Green Model to lifestyle intervention in male infertility patients. METHODS: A total of 120 male infertility patients treated from October 2018 to January 2019 were equally randomized into a control and an observation group, the former given conventional nursing and the latter Green Model intervention in addition. Comparisons were made between the two groups of patients in their satisfaction with nursing intervention, scores on lifestyle knowledge, beliefs and behaviors, and compliance with the healthy lifestyle. RESULTS: The patients in the observation group showed a dramatically higher satisfaction with the nursing intervention than the controls (96.67% vs 75.00%, P < 0.01) as well as higher scores on lifestyle knowledge (8.92 ± 1.08 vs 5.89 ± 1.99, P < 0.05), beliefs (8.78 ± 0.68 vs 5.98 ± 1.50, P < 0.05) and behaviors (19.32 ± 1.12 vs 13.88 ± 2.11, P < 0.05) and their compliance with the healthy lifestyle (61.67% vs 38.33, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Green Model intervention can help male infertility patients to obtain correct lifestyle cognition, beliefs and behaviors, promote their compliance with the healthy lifestyle and improve their satisfaction with nursing intervention.

Fertility preservation in paediatric nephrology: results of a physician survey.

OBJECTIVE: Fertility preservation (FP) is a widespread practice in paediatric oncology when gonadotoxic medications such as cyclophosphamide (CPO) are used. FP practice outside of oncology has not been studied, although nephrologists regularly use CPO. This is the first study to explore FP practice by paediatric nephrologists when CPO is used. DESIGN: Survey study. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared analyses were employed to analyse the data. PARTICIPANTS: US paediatric nephrologists were sent a survey via email. The survey queried participants about FP practice behaviours, FP attitudes and barriers to practice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Of 579 nephrologists invited, 32% responded to the survey. RESULTS: CPO was dosed in mg/kg by 23% of physicians, g/m(2) by 40% and both by 37%. About 80% agreed that pubertal females should be offered a fertility referral, while 58% report that they actually refer. Factors negatively associated with referral include lack of training, lack of referral network and adherence to gonadotoxic dose limits. Results were similar for male patients. CONCLUSION: The survey showed that FP practice in the United States is widespread among nephrologists. Lack of referral networks is a notable barrier for nephrologists. Perceived adherence to dose limits may be problematic given the variable dosing regimens utilised. This is due to the risk of unintended overdose in large adolescents dosed in mg/kg whose cumulative dose exceeds gonadotoxic limits in g/m(2) . This paper has implications for nephrology care providers and other specialists who utilise CPO, generalists who care for these patients and oncologists with extant FP referral networks.

Detection and management of pediatric conditions that may affect male fertility.

Conditions affecting male fertility may be detected in childhood. Affected children and adolescents and their parents are often anxious and concerned when infertility is discussed. Urology nurses and midlevel providers play a key role in the education and counseling of the patient and family An awareness of the more common conditions, including presentation, evaluation, and management, is critical.

Male infertility: A primer for NPs.

Few NPs are exposed to the topic of male infertility during the course of their training. There are medical and surgical treatment options for many of the most common diagnoses that contribute to decreased fertility in men. Recognizing these etiologies can help patients receive cost-effective treatment.

Fertility concerns for young males undergoing cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To review the treatment factors that can affect male fertility, and the practices at a large metropolitan children's hospital that has successfully developed a sperm banking program. The role of the nurse in the education of families and facilitating the sperm banking process will be described. DATA SOURCES: Review of the literature and anecdotal information. CONCLUSION: Because of increased survival rates over the past three decades in children diagnosed with cancer, the importance of preserving fertility has become paramount in the minds of health care providers, families, and patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Early identification and prompt referral for sperm banking by nurses are key factors in helping young male adolescents with cancer.

Role of the simple, self-designed questionnaire in nursing research.

Simple, self-designed questionnaires can serve a variety of purposes within nursing research. Self-designed questionnaires allow researchers to quickly, effectively, and inexpensively evaluate programs, collect pilot data, and survey accessible populations. This article discusses the role of self-designed questionnaires in simple research studies. Suggestions for designing questions and answers that are adequate measures of the topic of interest are offered. Examples of questionnaires from recent pilot surveys and evaluation projects are presented.

Exploring male fertility options after spinal cord injury: the role of the nurse clinician.

Male sexual function and fertility are important areas that need to be addressed for men undergoing spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Rehabilitation nurses need to understand what fertility after SCI involves. Significant advances in the areas of sperm retrieval and advanced reproductive technologies have made biological parenthood for many men with SCI a viable option. This article reviews the various sperm retrieval techniques and advanced reproductive technologies available today. It also describes the unique role of a nurse clinician working in a fertility clinic designed specifically to address the fertility concerns of men and their partners after SCI.

Reproductive issues for men with cancer: technology and nursing management.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To review the current medical technologies available to protect the reproductive potential of adult males undergoing sterilizing cancer treatments; to describe the attributes and limitations of these technologies and how oncology nurses can access them for the patient; and to discuss psychosocial elements, including the legal considerations of oncology nurses who counsel patients. DATA SOURCES: Quantitative data from personal clinical records; personal clinical experience; published articles, abstracts, and books identified by bibliographic data base searches; and consultation with lawyers. DATA SYNTHESIS: Cancer treatment can have severe and adverse long-term iatrogenic effects on male fertility. Medical technologies that protect male reproduction potential from sterilizing procedures have progressed from unreliable to clinically practical over a period of 20 years. The present clinical means for preserving the potential reproductive capacity of men at risk is cryopreservation of sperm before treatment begins, followed by assisted reproductive technology when pregnancy is desired. Medical, legal, and religious issues relevant to counseling are involved. CONCLUSIONS: Current reproductive technology provides realistic hope for future procreation by men facing sterilizing cancer treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nursing intervention primarily involves providing patient counseling and arranging patient access to cryopreservation facilities. Oncology nurses can assist men making these types of reproductive decisions by assessing their medical and psychological need for information and by counseling them in regard to human sexuality, the fertility risk of oncologic therapy, the availability of reproductive interventions, and the social ramifications of using stored semen.

Understanding the ethical issues in infertility nursing practice.

Nurses are actively involved in planning and providing nursing care to infertile individuals and couples in a variety of health care settings. Infertility is a health problem with ethical and physical, psychological, and social dimensions. Rather than evaluating the ethical advantages and disadvantages of each reproductive technology, the author suggests that the ethical issues that face nurses in caring for infertile individuals be assessed from the standpoint of possible harm to the individual and family. From this perspective, a lack of accurate information about treatment outcomes appears to be a serious ethical issue and one that nurses can, in part, remedy.

Male infertility: a challenge for primary health care providers.

Male infertility is a poorly understood problem that often receives awkward management from health care providers. Some abnormalities of the male reproductive system that lead to infertility can be treated successfully, others cannot. Any diagnosis of infertility can create an emotional crisis for the infertile male and his partner, which requires support, understanding and counseling from clinicians. This article examines the process of evaluating reproductive function, determining patient needs, establishing a plan of care and understanding treatment options for the infertile male.