Infertility patients' need and preferences for online peer support

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Psychology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Infertility affects millions globally, often causing significant psychological distress.
• Online peer support offers a potential avenue for accessible and scalable emotional and informational aid.
• Understanding patient interest and preferences is crucial for developing effective digital health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the interest level in online peer support among individuals undergoing fertility treatment.
• To identify demographic and psychological factors associated with interest in online peer support.
• To determine patient preferences for features within an online infertility peer support network.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online questionnaire was administered to 519 participants (236 men, 283 women) undergoing fertility treatment.
• Data collected included demographics, perceived stress, fertility characteristics, and preferences for online peer support.
• Statistical analyses were performed to identify factors associated with interest and preferred features.

Main Results:

• A high proportion of both men (80.1%) and women (89.8%) expressed interest in online peer support.
• Perceived stress was positively associated with interest in online peer support for both genders.
• Men with non-White ethnicity and lower income showed greater interest; preferences for mobile accessibility, monitored communication, and information links were common.

Conclusions:

• Infertility patients, particularly those experiencing high perceived stress, show significant interest in online peer support.
• Patient preferences for online support features are largely consistent across genders and fertility characteristics.
• Demographic factors and stress levels are important considerations for tailoring personalized online peer support solutions.