Effectiveness of a couple-based mobile programme in improving human fertility

To evaluate the effects of a mobile programme on infertility stress, anxiety, infertility self-efficacy, marital relationship, social support, and fertility quality of life in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted over three weeks with a non-equivalent control group and a non-synchronised pre-test - post-test design. Fifty couples participated: 26 in the experimental group and 24 in the control group. The experimental group received a couple-based mobile programme, while the control group received conventional care. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the chi-squared, Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon rank-sum, Mann - Whitney U, and t-tests. Prior scores of the individual variables were controlled through an analysis of covariance, and the differences in the pre- and post-intervention mean values between the groups were compared. The main outcome measures were infertility stress, anxiety, infertility self-efficacy, marital relationship, social support, and fertility quality of life.

The couple-based mobile programme effectively reduced infertility stress (F = 18.88, p < .001) and anxiety (F = 19.87, p < .001), and it improved infertility self-efficacy (F = 38.68, p < .001), marital relationship (F = 30.64, p < .001), and fertility quality of life (F = 21.08, p < .001).

The couple-based mobile programme can be used as an intervention to improve the quality of life for couples diagnosed with infertility who are undergoing intrauterine insemination. The results could form the basis for further development of interventions and strategies to improve the quality of life for couples considering ART.