An overview of information giving in fertility clinics

Information giving is a key aspect of the provision of high-quality patient-centred health care, resulting in patients who are well-informed, better adjusted to their circumstances and are compliant with their treatment. Fertility patients generally appear to be satisfied with the information they are given but a significant minority are not. Giving information to infertile patients is complicated by the nature of their condition, desire for a child and complexity of treatment options. Patients need detailed, well-timed information to support difficult decision-making, such as when to end treatment. The experiences of some individual patients and particular sub-groups in receiving and understanding information suggest that the quality of information or the way it is communicated could be improved. It is suggested that this may be achieved by reviewing the format and timing of the information provided, ensuring adequate staff training and facilitating flexibility in clinic organisation.