Table 2 Dimensions of patient-centered treatment
From: A conceptual framework for patient-centered fertility treatment
Definition | Includes | |
|---|---|---|
Effectiveness | The likelihood that a treatment will result in a desired outcome, which may be broadly understood as achieving parenthood or more narrowly construed as achieving pregnancy and live birth within a particular time-frame | Estimated pregnancy success rates for treatment; Estimated live birth rates for treatment; Estimated number of treatment cycles to achieve pregnancy |
Burden | The physical and emotional workload and responsibility that a treatment requires of patients and their partners as well as “the impact of treatment on patient functioning and well-being” | Pain/discomfort of treatment; Strain on relationships; Stress and anxiety associated with treatment |
Time | The amount of time involved in treatment; time to achieving parenthood | Time involved in treatments (e.g. appointments); Estimated time to parenthood for treatment; Effect of additional elapsed time on future options |
Financial Costs | The out-of-pocket cost of a treatment | Price tag of treatment options; Payment plans/options; Effect of cost on future options |
Potential Risks | The negative outcomes associated with treatment that may or may not actually occur | Maternal risks (e.g. OHSS); Fetal/infant/child risks (e.g. prematurity); Multiple gestation/birth |
Genetic Parentage | Genetic/biological connection to child | Whether a treatment involves the use of a patient’s and partner’s own gametes, or involves donated genetic material, such as sperm, egg, or embryo |