Influence of targeted nursing-guided bladder filling on embryo transfer outcomes and patient comfort: A prospective open randomized controlled study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The success of assisted pregnancy relies heavily on the effectiveness of the embryo transfer process. Currently, embryo transfer is typically conducted with the assistance of abdominal ultrasound. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of targeted nursing interventions on the embryo transfer procedure, its impact on pregnancy outcomes, and the level of patient comfort concerning bladder management throughout the procedure. METHODS: A total of 247 patients who underwent embryo transfer at the Reproductive Center of Peking University People’s Hospital from December 2019 to August 2020 were included in this study. These patients were categorized into two groups: the control group (n= 124) and the experimental group (n= 123). Within the control group, patients received conventional preoperative education, whereas those within the experimental group were subjected to targeted nursing interventions. Furthermore, patients in the experimental group were furnished with explicit instructions pertaining to the volume and timing of water intake. Multiple factors were assessed in this study, encompassing bladder filling, the quality of uterine imaging, the utilization of assistive devices during the surgical procedure, and pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, a post-operative questionnaire was administered to both groups to gauge their comfort levels regarding urinary retention. RESULTS: Following the targeted nursing intervention, ultrasound scans indicated an increase in bladder depth (5.91 ± 1.76 vs. 5.40 ± 1.61, P= 0.02), resulting in clearer endometrial imaging (96.74% vs. 88.71%, P= 0.02). Additionally, the experimental group reported significantly higher levels of comfort with urine retention (P= 0.01) compared to the control group, and these differences held statistical significance. Furthermore, the pregnancy rate in the experimental group was greater than that in the control group (52.85% vs. 50.8%, P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the premise that pregnancy rates remain unaffected, the implementation of targeted nursing care has the potential to augment bladder filling, enhance the quality of endometrial imaging, reduce the requirement for instrument-assisted embryo transfers, and notably enhance the comfort of patients in relation to urine retention.