Fertility Preservation Knowledge and Attitudes Among Medical Students as Future Practitioners [ID 2683445

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Medical students are the next generation of physicians and provide a current snapshot of medical education. The objective of the study was to gain insight into the knowledge and attitudes regarding fertility preservation among medical students. METHODS: Medical students at The University of Kansas School of Medicine (KUSM) participated in a prospective, cross-sectional web-based survey study. Survey questions included knowledge-based questions based on the American Society for Reproductive Medicine fertility preservation guidelines, and attitudes towards fertility preservation were measured using Likert scales. This study was IRB approved. RESULTS: Most respondents (N=123; response rate: 14.1%) were aged 20–29 years (94.3%; n=116) and were pursuing family medicine (18.7%; n=23). In terms of training, 16.5% of respondents (n=20) reported having formal lectures on fertility preservation and 31.7% (n=38) on assisted reproduction technology. More than 45% of clinical students reported not being exposed to reproductive endocrinology and infertility or fertility preservation on clinical rotations (n=32/70). Only 1.6% of respondents (n=2) correctly answered at least 75% of knowledge questions about fertility preservation. Almost half (49.5%; 51/103) of respondents reported discomfort discussing fertility preservation with patients needing fertility preservation. Patient prognosis, finances, and age were the top factors influencing the professional decision to provide a patient with fertility preservation information. CONCLUSION: Students indicate poor familiarity and comfort with discussing fertility preservation, which in the future, may reduce and/or delay patient access to this option. Thus, medical student curriculum focused on reproductive endocrinology and fertility preservation represents an important educational opportunity to improve patient care and outcomes.