Anna Font-Gonzalez1, Renée L Mulder1, Erik A H Loeffen2, Julianne Byrne3, Eline van Dulmen-den Broeder4, Marry M van den Heuvel-Eibrink5, Melissa M Hudson6, Lisa B Kenney7, Jennifer M Levine8, Wim J E Tissing2, Marianne D van de Wetering1, Leontien C M Kremer1. 1. Department of Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 2. Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. 3. Boyne Research Institute, Drogheda, Ireland. 4. Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 5. Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands. 6. Department of Pediatric Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. 7. Department of Pediatric Oncology, Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. 8. Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fertility preservation care for children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYAs) with cancer is not uniform among practitioners. To ensure high-quality care, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are essential. The authors identified existing CPGs for fertility preservation in CAYAs with cancer, evaluated their quality, and explored differences in recommendations. METHODS: A systematic search in PubMed (January 2000-October 2014); guideline databases; and Web sites of oncology, pediatric, and fertility organizations was performed. Two reviewers evaluated the quality of the identified CPGs using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II Instrument (AGREE II). From high-quality CPGs, the authors evaluated concordant and discordant areas among the recommendations. RESULTS: A total of 25 CPGs regarding fertility preservation were identified. The average AGREE II domain scores (scale of 0%-100%) varied from 15% on applicability to 100% on clarity of presentation. The authors considered 8 CPGs (32%) to be of high quality, which was defined as scores ≥60% in any 4 domains. Large variations in the recommendations of the high-quality CPGs were observed, with 87.2% and 88.6%, respectively, of discordant guideline areas among the fertility preservation recommendations for female and male patients with cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Only approximately one-third of the identified CPGs were found to be of sufficient quality. Of these CPGs, the fertility preservation recommendations varied substantially, which can be a reflection of inadequate evidence for specific recommendations, thereby hindering the ability of providers to deliver high-quality care. CPGs including a transparent decision process for fertility preservation can help health care providers to deliver optimal and uniform care, thus improving the quality of life of CAYAs with cancer and cancer survivors. Cancer 2016;122:2216-23.
BACKGROUND: Fertility preservation care for children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYAs) with cancer is not uniform among practitioners. To ensure high-quality care, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are essential. The authors identified existing CPGs for fertility preservation in CAYAs with cancer, evaluated their quality, and explored differences in recommendations. METHODS: A systematic search in PubMed (January 2000-October 2014); guideline databases; and Web sites of oncology, pediatric, and fertility organizations was performed. Two reviewers evaluated the quality of the identified CPGs using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II Instrument (AGREE II). From high-quality CPGs, the authors evaluated concordant and discordant areas among the recommendations. RESULTS: A total of 25 CPGs regarding fertility preservation were identified. The average AGREE II domain scores (scale of 0%-100%) varied from 15% on applicability to 100% on clarity of presentation. The authors considered 8 CPGs (32%) to be of high quality, which was defined as scores ≥60% in any 4 domains. Large variations in the recommendations of the high-quality CPGs were observed, with 87.2% and 88.6%, respectively, of discordant guideline areas among the fertility preservation recommendations for female and male patients with cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Only approximately one-third of the identified CPGs were found to be of sufficient quality. Of these CPGs, the fertility preservation recommendations varied substantially, which can be a reflection of inadequate evidence for specific recommendations, thereby hindering the ability of providers to deliver high-quality care. CPGs including a transparent decision process for fertility preservation can help health care providers to deliver optimal and uniform care, thus improving the quality of life of CAYAs with cancer and cancer survivors. Cancer 2016;122:2216-23.
Authors: Joceline V Vu; Natalia C Llarena; Samantha L Estevez; Molly B Moravek; Jacqueline S Jeruss Journal: J Surg Oncol Date: 2016-12-14 Impact factor: 3.454
Authors: M Muñoz; A Santaballa; M A Seguí; C Beato; S de la Cruz; J Espinosa; P J Fonseca; J Perez; T Quintanar; A Blasco Journal: Clin Transl Oncol Date: 2016-11-28 Impact factor: 3.405