A comparative study of the effect of face-to-face counseling and telephone counseling on attitudes toward infertility in infertile couples

BACKGROUND: Couples’ attitudes toward infertility are related to different dimensions of infertility. Counseling can change attitudes toward infertility in infertile couples. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine and compare the effect of face-to-face counseling and telephone counseling on infertility attitudes in infertile couples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This two-group intervention study was performed on 34 infertile couples who were randomly assigned to face-to-face and telephone counseling groups. The couple attended counseling sessions as scheduled by the researcher. An Infertility Attitude Questionnaire was completed by all participants at the beginning and end of the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. RESULTS: The results of independent t test showed that after the intervention, the mean score of attitude toward infertility in the face-to-face counseling group was significantly higher than the telephone counseling group. Based on paired t test, the mean score of infertility attitude in the face-to-face counseling group was significantly increased two weeks after the intervention compared to before. The mean score of infertility attitude in the telephone counseling group was significantly increased two weeks after the intervention compared to before. According to the results of independent t test, the attitude score toward infertility was not statistically significant between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that with counseling, the mean score of infertility attitude in infertile couples in both groups had increased. In other words, counseling can change attitudes toward infertility in infertile people.