Table 4 Studies on childbirth concerns and desires
From: Psychosocial challenges among Asian adolescents and young adults with cancer: a scoping review
Author, year | Country | Study design | N | Control group (n) | Age at dx range in years | Age at study mean ± SD (range) in years | Follow up time | Treatment (%) | Outcomes | Assessments | Main results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quantitative studies | |||||||||||
Chan, et al. [39], 2018 | Singapore | Prospective, longitudinal cohort | 65 | NA | 15–39 | ± 6.7 | ‧ At diagnosis (T1) ‧ 1 month (T2) ‧ 6 months (T3) | NR | Concerns about ability to have children | The NCCN Distress Thermometer | ‧ Concerns about having children (18.5% at T1, 4.6% at T2, 4.6% at T3) |
Furui, et al. [41], 2019 | Japan | Cross-sectional | 36 | ‧ Healthy AYAs (200) ‧ Childhood cancer survivors (76) | 16–39 | 33.2 ± 4.8 | NA | Chemotherapy (69.4) | Concerns about reproductive function and infertility | Structured questionnaire | ‧ More concerns about reproductive function and infertility in AYA survivors (69.5%) than healthy controls (2.5%) |
Furui, et al. [42], 2019 | Japan | Cross-sectional | 52 | Healthy AYAs (100) | 15–39 | 32.3 ± 6.6 | NA | Chemotherapy (100) | ‧ Concerns about infertility ‧ Desire for childbearing | Structured questionnaire | ‧ More concerns about reproductive function in AYA survivors (51.9%) than healthy controls (3%) ‧ Diagnosed as “infertile” (19.2%) ‧ Menstrual cycle abnormalities as a late effect of therapy (36.5%) ‧ More AYA survivors reported “giving up trying for a child” (21.2%) than healthy controls (0%) |
Wu, et al. [47], 2023 | China | Cross-sectional | 150 | NA | 18–40 | 34.7 ± 3.97 | NA | ‧ Surgery (100) Chemoradiotherapy (NR) | ‧ Reproductive concerns | ‧ RCAC Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale II | ‧ Mean score for overall reproductive concerns: 54.78 ± 8.97 (out of 90 points) ‧ High prevalence of concerns in child's health, personal health, becoming pregnant, fertility potential, partner disclosure and acceptance |
Qualitative studies | |||||||||||
Qiu, et al. [51], 2023 | China | Qualitative interview | 12 | NA | 24–40 | ± 4.1 | NA | ‧ Surgery (NR) ‧ Chemotherapy (NR) ‧ Radiation (NR) ‧ Endocrine therapy (NR) ‧ Targeted therapy (NR) ‧ Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NR) | ‧ Desire for childbearing ‧ Emotional experience during pregnancy ‧ Reproductive decision-making | Semi-structured interview | Major themes: ‧ Awareness that the cancer may impair fertility status ‧ Worries about health of unborn child affected by treatment ‧ Expressed regret if the goal of childbearing is not achieved ‧ Expressed pressure from family elders to have children ‧ Trust in doctors and science influencing reproductive decisions |