Skip to main content

Addressing Barriers to Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients: The Role of Oncofertility Patient Navigation.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dorfman, CS; Stalls, JM; Mills, C; Voelkel, S; Thompson, M; Acharya, KS; Baker, KC; Wagner, LM; Miller, N; Boswell, A; Corbett, C
Published in: Journal of oncology navigation & survivorship
October 2021

Infertility is a common late effect for cancer survivors. Whereas assisted reproductive technology has made it possible for survivors to take steps to preserve fertility before starting treatment, only a minority of patients proceed with preservation. Patient-, provider-, health system-, and societal-level barriers to fertility preservation (FP) exist. Oncofertility patient navigation is a valuable resource for addressing FP barriers.To highlight the critical role of oncofertility patient navigation in addressing barriers to FP within an academic oncofertility program.The role of the oncofertility patient navigator in reducing FP barriers, promoting informed decision-making, and ensuring program sustainability is described. Program metrics illustrating the impact of oncofertility patient navigation on referrals for FP counseling and access to FP in the last year also are provided.The oncofertility program at our academic adult and pediatric medical centers aims to facilitate rapid referral to fertility counseling and preservation services for postpubertal cancer patients. The patient navigator is integral to the success of the program. The navigator ensures that patients are: (1) well-informed about the potential impact of cancer on fertility and FP options, (2) aware of available resources (eg, financial) for pursuing FP, (3) able to access FP services if desired, and (4) well supported in making an informed FP decision. The inclusion of the patient navigator has led to an almost 2-fold increase in referrals for FP counseling in the past year over the historic annual average.Our institution's oncofertility program, with patient navigation at the core, provides a potential model for increasing patient access to oncofertility care and promoting program sustainability. Oncofertility patient navigation is a valuable resource for providing patients and families with education and support regarding FP decision-making, as well as addressing the multilevel barriers to FP.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of oncology navigation & survivorship

EISSN

2166-0980

ISSN

2166-0999

Publication Date

October 2021

Volume

12

Issue

10

Start / End Page

332 / 348
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Dorfman, C. S., Stalls, J. M., Mills, C., Voelkel, S., Thompson, M., Acharya, K. S., … Corbett, C. (2021). Addressing Barriers to Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients: The Role of Oncofertility Patient Navigation. Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship, 12(10), 332–348.
Dorfman, Caroline S., Juliann M. Stalls, Coleman Mills, Shannon Voelkel, Mallori Thompson, Kelly S. Acharya, Karen C. Baker, et al. “Addressing Barriers to Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients: The Role of Oncofertility Patient Navigation.Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship 12, no. 10 (October 2021): 332–48.
Dorfman CS, Stalls JM, Mills C, Voelkel S, Thompson M, Acharya KS, et al. Addressing Barriers to Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients: The Role of Oncofertility Patient Navigation. Journal of oncology navigation & survivorship. 2021 Oct;12(10):332–48.
Dorfman, Caroline S., et al. “Addressing Barriers to Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients: The Role of Oncofertility Patient Navigation.Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship, vol. 12, no. 10, Oct. 2021, pp. 332–48.
Dorfman CS, Stalls JM, Mills C, Voelkel S, Thompson M, Acharya KS, Baker KC, Wagner LM, Miller N, Boswell A, Corbett C. Addressing Barriers to Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients: The Role of Oncofertility Patient Navigation. Journal of oncology navigation & survivorship. 2021 Oct;12(10):332–348.

Published In

Journal of oncology navigation & survivorship

EISSN

2166-0980

ISSN

2166-0999

Publication Date

October 2021

Volume

12

Issue

10

Start / End Page

332 / 348