Does a public online IVF prediction tool help set patient expectations? A mixed methods evaluation study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Health Informatics
• Patient Education

Background:

• Web-based In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) prediction tools are available but lack evaluation regarding their impact on patient expectations and perceived trustworthiness.
• Patient demand for transparency and participation in healthcare decisions is increasing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a public online IVF success prediction calculator, the YourIVFSuccess Estimator, on patient expectations.
• To assess patient perceptions of the tool's usefulness and trustworthiness.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post evaluation design was employed, surveying 780 online users of the Australian YourIVFSuccess Estimator.
• Participants completed online surveys before and after using the tool to assess changes in their IVF success expectations.

Main Results:

• The YourIVFSuccess Estimator significantly aided consumer expectations, with half of users adjusting their predictions after use.
• 26% of participants had their IVF success expectations confirmed, and 91% found the tool trustworthy.
• Positive perceptions were linked to the tool's independent funding and use of real-world data.

Conclusions:

• Publicly accessible IVF prediction tools utilizing real-world data are valuable for aligning patient expectations regarding IVF success rates.
• Country-specific prediction tools informed by national data sources are recommended due to international variations in patient characteristics and IVF practices.