Knowledge, attitudes and practices of physicians and nurses regarding the link between IVF treatments and breast...

The ovarian stimulating hormones used in In-Vitro Fertilization may increase the incidence of breast cancer. Little research has been conducted to ascertain health professionals' knowledge or practices regarding this possible connection and if they communicate this risk to their patients. This study described the knowledge, attitudes and practices of doctors and nurses regarding the causative link between In-Vitro Fertilization treatments and breast cancer, and to determine if these health professionals were assessing or communicating this possible risk to their patients.

Seventy gynecologists and nurses who worked in fertility clinics, had at least one year of experience in fertility and were literate in Hebrew were asked to complete the questionnaires. Ten clinics around the country were contacted and the questionnaires were distributed and collected on the same day.

35 Nurses and 35 gynecologists completed the survey. Although the majority of the physicians (68%) and nurses (69%) thought that there was a possible connection between the hormonal treatment of IVF and breast cancer, physicians were significantly more likely to inform their patients about the connection than were nurses.

There is a gap between the attitudes and practices of both physicians and nurses in communicating possible cancer risk to IVF clients. It would be beneficial to create a standardized risk communication protocol that would include information and guidelines for practice. More research must be conducted in this area, as there is almost no data on possible maternal risk from IVF treatment.