The embryologist as counsellor during assisted reproduction procedures

This study aimed to establish whether patients who receive support counselling by the embryologist as counsellor during assisted reproduction procedures would be better equipped with efficient coping mechanisms than patients who were not counselled. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to either the support counselling or the control groups. Questionnaires, measuring pre- and post-treatment levels of anxiety, depression and ways of coping, were presented to both groups. The support counselling group received emotional support and counselling from the embryologist. The control group were treated routinely, received no counselling or emotional support and were asked to phone the gynaecologist daily concerning embryo development. Despite reliable internal consistency, the hypothesis was not accepted due to non-significant differences between the groups. However, t-tests indicated a changed pattern of behaviour within the support counselling group, who experienced a statistically significant (P < 0.017) reduction in anxiety levels after the counselling intervention, as well as increased use of problem-focused coping strategies, such as instrumental action, in dealing with the demands of the treatment programme.