BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationship between emotional distress as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) questionnaire. METHODS: The FertiQoL and HADS were distributed to a random sample of 785 patients attending 29 Dutch clinics for medically assisted reproduction. FertiQoL was psychometrically tested for reliability. Pearson's correlations were calculated between subscales of FertiQoL and HADS. Using an independent t-test, differences between patient subgroups were computed for both instruments. The threshold for clinically meaningful depression/anxiety on the HADS subscales was used to ascertain the critical threshold for high distress on the FertiQoL scales. RESULTS: FertiQoL and HADS were completed by 583 patients (response 74%). Reliability of FertiQoL scales was high (reliability coefficient between 0.72 and 0.91). Significant negative correlations were found between FertiQoL subscales and HADS scores for anxiety and depression, ranging from -0.29 to -0.71. Means on FertiQoL scales and HADS scales of couples undergoing an assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment and a non-ART treatment did not differ significantly. Patients scoring above the HADS threshold for pathology on anxiety had an average FertiQoL score of 58.8, whereas patients exceeding the HADS depression threshold had a FertiQoL total score of 51.9 (range 0-100). CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the expected negative relation between quality of life as measured by FertiQoL and anxiety and depression. The data support that FertiQoL reliably measures QoL in women facing infertility. FertiQoL enables clinicians to tailor care more specifically to the patient in a comprehensive way.
BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationship between emotional distress as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) questionnaire. METHODS: The FertiQoL and HADS were distributed to a random sample of 785 patients attending 29 Dutch clinics for medically assisted reproduction. FertiQoL was psychometrically tested for reliability. Pearson's correlations were calculated between subscales of FertiQoL and HADS. Using an independent t-test, differences between patient subgroups were computed for both instruments. The threshold for clinically meaningful depression/anxiety on the HADS subscales was used to ascertain the critical threshold for high distress on the FertiQoL scales. RESULTS:FertiQoL and HADS were completed by 583 patients (response 74%). Reliability of FertiQoL scales was high (reliability coefficient between 0.72 and 0.91). Significant negative correlations were found between FertiQoL subscales and HADS scores for anxiety and depression, ranging from -0.29 to -0.71. Means on FertiQoL scales and HADS scales of couples undergoing an assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment and a non-ART treatment did not differ significantly. Patients scoring above the HADS threshold for pathology on anxiety had an average FertiQoL score of 58.8, whereas patients exceeding the HADS depression threshold had a FertiQoL total score of 51.9 (range 0-100). CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the expected negative relation between quality of life as measured by FertiQoL and anxiety and depression. The data support that FertiQoL reliably measures QoL in women facing infertility. FertiQoL enables clinicians to tailor care more specifically to the patient in a comprehensive way.
Authors: Michael P Diamond; Richard S Legro; Christos Coutifaris; Ruben Alvero; Randal D Robinson; Peter A Casson; Gregory M Christman; Hao Huang; Karl R Hansen; Valerie Baker; Rebecca Usadi; Aimee Seungdamrong; G Wright Bates; R Mitchell Rosen; William Schlaff; Daniel Haisenleder; Stephen A Krawetz; Kurt Barnhart; J C Trussell; Nanette Santoro; Esther Eisenberg; Heping Zhang Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2017-04-26 Impact factor: 8.661
Authors: Nanette Santoro; Esther Eisenberg; J C Trussell; LaTasha B Craig; Clarisa Gracia; Hao Huang; Ruben Alvero; Peter Casson; Gregory Christman; Christos Coutifaris; Michael Diamond; Susan Jin; Richard S Legro; Randal D Robinson; William D Schlaff; Heping Zhang Journal: Hum Reprod Date: 2016-07-07 Impact factor: 6.918
Authors: Karl R Hansen; Amy Linnea W He; Aaron K Styer; Robert A Wild; Samantha Butts; Lawrence Engmann; Michael P Diamond; Richard S Legro; Christos Coutifaris; Ruben Alvero; Randal D Robinson; Peter Casson; Gregory M Christman; Hao Huang; Nanette Santoro; Esther Eisenberg; Heping Zhang Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2016-03-03 Impact factor: 7.329
Authors: Srdjan Saso; Karl Logan; Yazan Abdallah; Louay S Louis; Sadaf Ghaem-Maghami; J Richard Smith; Giuseppe Del Priore Journal: J Transplant Date: 2011-11-10
Authors: Eva W Verkerk; Ester A Rake; Didi D M Braat; Willianne L D M Nelen; Johanna W M Aarts; Jan A M Kremer Journal: Health Expect Date: 2022-02-26 Impact factor: 3.318
Authors: Aleida G Huppelschoten; Noortje T L van Duijnhoven; Rosella P M G Hermens; Chris Verhaak; Jan A M Kremer; Willianne L D M Nelen Journal: Trials Date: 2012-09-24 Impact factor: 2.279