Communication and Respect for Patient Value as Significant Factors in Patient-Centered Infertility Care: A Survey of Patients' Experiences in Two Infertility Centers

CONTEXT: The patient-centered infertility care (PCIC) approach emphasizes the patient's role in choosing the most appropriate clinical approach in infertility care. The concept can improve the patient satisfaction with care performed as well as the efficacy of the treatment. In addition, this concept can also lead to improve collaboration between patient and care provider, ultimately supporting a more cost-effective health-care scheme. AIMS: This study was developed in order to determine patients' experience in their PCIC. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a descriptive study. We conducted the study in two fertility care clinics, Clinic A and Clinic B. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Patient-Centeredness Questionnaire-Infertility (PCQ-I) was used, consisting of 7 essential themes. The questionnaire was completed by consenting patients in two infertility clinics. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The questionnaire was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 21 version statistical software. RESULTS: Eighty-eight Clinic A patients who completed the questionnaire responded that the best element of their treatment received was communication (correlation with global score [CGS]: 0.747), whereas the least acceptable aspect was the low accessibility (CGS: 0.211). A total of 20 Clinic B patients responded that the best element of their treatment received was respect for the patient's value (CGS: 0.866), whereas the least acceptable aspect was also the low level of accessibility (CGS: 0.193). CONCLUSIONS: The PCQ-I can be used to evaluate patients' experience during treatment and may help the health-care provider to improve their performance.