The Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about Fertility Preservation among Oncologist-A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Fertility Preservation is the process of saving or protecting a person’s ability to have children in the future. It is often considered for individuals who are about to undergo medical treatments that may impact their fertility, such as chemotherapy. Hence, the current study is aimed to assess clinical practitioners’ knowledge, practice, and attitude toward fertility preservation among oncologists. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out to identify the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding fertility preservation among oncologists—a total of seventy-nine oncologists in Karachi working in different public and private sectors. The study was conducted between January to August 2022. The data was gathered using a self-designed questionnaire that was distributed via email. Result One hundred and eighty oncologists were provided with the survey form via email. The response rate was 47.22% (n=85). Out of which, six questionnaires were excluded due to incomplete information. The total questionnaire analyzed was n=79, which included 58 (73.41%) males and 21 (16.59%) females. Conclusion The results revealed that oncologists had a compromised knowledge regarding fertility preservation for cancer patients. Despite weak knowledge, most oncologists believe that more elaborative measures should be taken to overcome this issue. Keywords Attitude, Fertility Preservation, Knowledge, Oncologist