TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward fertility preservation in patients with breast cancer
T2 - A cross-sectional survey of physicians
AU - Baek, Soo Yeon
AU - Lee, Kyung Hun
AU - Kim, Sung Bae
AU - Gomez, Henry
AU - Vidaurre, Tatiana
AU - Park, Yeon Hee
AU - Ahn, Hee Kyung
AU - Kim, Yoo Seok
AU - Park, In Hae
AU - Ahn, Sung Gwe
AU - Lee, Jeeyeon
AU - Jeong, Jae Ho
AU - Kim, Seonok
AU - Kim, Hee Jeong
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Baek, Lee, Kim, Gomez, Vidaurre, Park, Ahn, Kim, Park, Ahn, Lee, Jeong, Kim and Kim.
PY - 2023/1/23
Y1 - 2023/1/23
N2 - Background: Fertility is an important issue for young women with breast cancer, but studies about physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward fertility preservation (FP) are largely based on Western populations and do not reflect recent international guidelines for FP. In this international study, we aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians from South Korea, other Asian countries, and Latin America toward FP in young women with breast cancer, and identify the related barriers. Methods: The survey was conducted anonymously among physicians from South Korea, other Asian countries, and Latin America involved in breast cancer care between November 2020 and July 2021. Topics included knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward FP; practice behaviors; barriers; and participant demographics. We grouped related questions around two main themes—discussion with patients about FP, and consultation and referral to a reproductive endocrinologist. We analyzed the relationships between main questions and other survey items. Results: A total of 151 physicians completed the survey. Most participants’ overall knowledge about FP was good. More than half of the participants answered that they discussed FP with their patients in most cases, but that personnel to facilitate discussions about FP and the provision of educational materials were limited. A major barrier was time constraints in the clinic (52.6%). Discussion, consultations, and referrals were more likely to be performed by surgeons who primarily treated patients with operable breast cancer (FP discussion odds ratio [OR]: 2.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–6.79; FP consultation and referral OR: 2.98; 95% CI: 1.14–7.74). Participants’ knowledge and attitudes about FP were significantly associated with discussion, consultations, and referrals. Conclusion: Physicians from South Korea, other Asian countries, and Latin America are knowledgeable about FP and most perform practice behaviors toward FP well. Physicians’ knowledge and favorable attitudes are significantly related to discussion with patients, as well as consultation with and referral to reproductive endocrinologists. However, there are also barriers, such as limitations to human resources and materials, suggesting a need for a systematic approach to improve FP for young women with breast cancer.
AB - Background: Fertility is an important issue for young women with breast cancer, but studies about physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward fertility preservation (FP) are largely based on Western populations and do not reflect recent international guidelines for FP. In this international study, we aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians from South Korea, other Asian countries, and Latin America toward FP in young women with breast cancer, and identify the related barriers. Methods: The survey was conducted anonymously among physicians from South Korea, other Asian countries, and Latin America involved in breast cancer care between November 2020 and July 2021. Topics included knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward FP; practice behaviors; barriers; and participant demographics. We grouped related questions around two main themes—discussion with patients about FP, and consultation and referral to a reproductive endocrinologist. We analyzed the relationships between main questions and other survey items. Results: A total of 151 physicians completed the survey. Most participants’ overall knowledge about FP was good. More than half of the participants answered that they discussed FP with their patients in most cases, but that personnel to facilitate discussions about FP and the provision of educational materials were limited. A major barrier was time constraints in the clinic (52.6%). Discussion, consultations, and referrals were more likely to be performed by surgeons who primarily treated patients with operable breast cancer (FP discussion odds ratio [OR]: 2.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–6.79; FP consultation and referral OR: 2.98; 95% CI: 1.14–7.74). Participants’ knowledge and attitudes about FP were significantly associated with discussion, consultations, and referrals. Conclusion: Physicians from South Korea, other Asian countries, and Latin America are knowledgeable about FP and most perform practice behaviors toward FP well. Physicians’ knowledge and favorable attitudes are significantly related to discussion with patients, as well as consultation with and referral to reproductive endocrinologists. However, there are also barriers, such as limitations to human resources and materials, suggesting a need for a systematic approach to improve FP for young women with breast cancer.
KW - breast cancer
KW - consultation and referral
KW - fertility preservation
KW - survivorship
KW - young age
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147446868&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fonc.2023.1109694
DO - 10.3389/fonc.2023.1109694
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85147446868
SN - 2234-943X
VL - 13
JO - Frontiers in Oncology
JF - Frontiers in Oncology
M1 - 1109694
ER -