Online IVF Injection Training Boosts Patient Confidence

DENVER — Online training about the details of in vitro fertilization (IVF) boosts patient confidence about managing the process more than in-person training, according to research presented on October 21 at the 2024 Scientific Conference & Expo of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). 

“It can take quite a bit of time” for a nurse to explain the purpose of every medication, how they should be mixed, and how to inject them, said Belinda Yauger, MD, division director for reproductive endocrinology and infertility at UT Health San Antonio, Texas. This responsibility is especially a challenge when many patient education sessions occur on the same day, Yauger added, because it pulls nurses away from other duties.

For the study, the researchers compared the perceived knowledge and confidence of two groups of IVF patients. One group received in-person training from a nurse, the other used an online module called MedReady, developed by SMP Pharmacy and EngagedMD.

Each of the 82 participants completed pre-tests about their knowledge of IVF techniques regardless of which training method they received. The pre-test occurred during the baseline visit. 

During the visit for egg retrieval 37 patients who had received nurse training, and 20 who watched the online videos, completed a post-test. The pre and post-tests assessed changes in patient comprehension and confidence in their knowledge of the IVF process.

Regardless of training method, patient comprehension improved significantly (pre-test, 4.8 of 6 questions answered correctly; post-test, 5.7 of 6; P follicle-stimulating hormone. 

The groups were also equal in their perceived knowledge and confidence about various aspects of the IVF injection process, measured with a Likert scale up to 5 (4.3 with in-person training vs 4.2 with online training; P = .41). On the scale, 1 represented very poor knowledge and confidence and 5 indicated very good knowledge and confidence.

But when asked directly, “After the IVF class I feel more confident that I am prepared for the IVF process?” the online training group was significantly more confident than the in-person group. 

“Whether that was because they felt they could watch it again, or they just liked online videos, those were the three findings,” said Nicholas Stansbury, MD, a fellow in reproductive endocrinology and fertility at UT Health San Antonio who presented the findings at the ASRM conference. 

Future research is needed to determine whether online training leads to cost or time savings for fertility clinics, he added. And Yauger noted online videos should be used to supplement nurse education, not replace it.

“I’d really be interested in learning whether after-hours calls to the nurses or MyChart messages reduced,” said Vinita Alexander, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist in St. Louis who has studied telehealth in fertility care. 

Alexander noted that some people are uncomfortable with online tools or may have a hard time watching the videos without distractions. But everything has advantages and disadvantages.

“Online training is good for patients who have time constraints and scheduling challenges. And some nurses are very good at doing the training, others are not, so there can be some variation there,” said Alexander, who like Yauger believes a blended approach that mixes online and in-person support makes the most sense.

“The thing that people generally have questions about — is it really important that I take this medication at this time? — aren’t usually addressed in online videos,” she said.

Yauger, Stansbury, and Alexander report no relevant financial relationships. 

Marcus A. Banks, MA, is a journalist based in New York City who covers health news with a focus on new cancer research. His work appears in Medscape, Cancer Today, The Scientist, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News, Slate, TCTMD, and Spectrum.