Development of an Instrument to Examine Nursing Attitudes Toward Fertility Preservation in Oncology

Purpose/Objectives: To develop an instrument to measure staff nurse perceptions of the barriers to and benefits of addressing fertility preservation (FP) with patients newly diagnosed with cancer.

Design: A prospective, nonrandomized instrument development approach.

Setting: Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Sample: 224 RNs who care for patients with cancer.

Methods: The instrument was developed with content experts and field-tested with oncology staff nurses. Responses to a web-based survey were used in exploratory factor analysis. After refining the instrument, the authors conducted a confirmatory factor analysis with 230 web-based survey responses.

Main Research Variables: Self-perceived barriers to providing FP options to patients newly diagnosed with cancer.

Findings: The results supported a 15-item instrument with five domains: (a) confidence, (b) self-awareness, (c) external barriers, (d) time barriers, and (e) perceived treatment barriers.

Conclusions: This instrument can be used to explore oncology nurses’ attitudes toward FP in newly diagnosed people with cancer in their reproductive years.

Implications for Nursing: A more comprehensive understanding of attitudes and barriers related to FP will guide the building of optimal systems that support effective FP options, resources, and programs for individuals with cancer.