Improving women's healthcare providers' knowledge about fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency through a...

Gaps in knowledge among women's healthcare providers have contributed to diagnostic delays and delayed care for women with fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI). The objective of this study was to assess if an educational tool could improve women's healthcare providers' knowledge of FXPOI.

A one-page educational tool about the premutation and FXPOI was developed. To assess the impact, a pre- and post-intervention survey was given to 95 providers. The post-intervention survey was emailed approximately 1 month after the pre-intervention survey. Surveys consisted of 12 knowledge-based questions (12 points total). Additional information collected included demographics, routine POI workup, comfort level explaining carrier screening results, and feedback on the tool.

Provider knowledge significantly improved from 7.34/12 (± 1.75) to 8.66/12 (± 2.30) (p < 0.0001). Significant predictors of pre-intervention knowledge included provider type, specialty, presence of a genetic counselor (GC) in clinic, and graduation year. Physicians outperformed nurse practitioners and nurse midwives (p < 0.0128). Reproductive endocrinologists and maternal-fetal medicine providers outperformed other specialties (p < 0.0001). Providers with a GC in the clinic performed better than those without (p = 0.0128). Providers who graduated between 2010 and 2019 outperformed more recent graduates (p = 0.0348). No significant predictors were identified for post-intervention scores.

The implementation of our novel educational tool led to measurable improvement in provider knowledge regarding FXPOI and the fragile X premutation. The absence of significant demographic predictor variables on the post-intervention survey suggests that the educational tool may help reduce provider gaps in knowledge and ultimately reduce time to diagnosis and improve reproductive care for women with FXPOI.