Kyoko Asazawa1, Mina Jitsuzaki2, Akiko Mori3, Tomohiko Ichikawa4, Katsuko Shinozaki5, Sarah E Porter6. 1. Department of Nursing, Tokyo Healthcare University, Tokyo, Japan. 2. Department of Nursing, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka, Japan. 3. Women's Health and Midwifery Graduate School, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. 5. Graduate School of Health and Welfare Science, International University of Health and Welfare, Fukuoka, Japan. 6. St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
AIM: To dentify the predictors of the quality of life (QOL) of infertile men who are undergoing infertility treatments in Japan and to create a QOL prediction model, with the main variables aimed at providing more adequate support to male patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the quantitative data that were collected from 321 returned self-report questionnaires that had been distributed to the men of 411 couples who were undergoing fertility treatment. The following four scales were used to measure the main outcomes: FertiQoL, psychological distress, spousal support, and workplace support. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, multiple regression analyses, and structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The number of returned questionnaires was 321 (78.1%). The QOL that was measured by FertiQoL was significantly lower in those men who were diagnosed with male factor infertility than in the other male patients. The two significant predictors of QOL were: spousal support and the infertility period. The structural equation modeling revealed that the same factors were related to QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Male factor infertility, less spousal support, and a longer period of infertility were associated with a poorer QOL of those men who were undergoing infertility treatment. These results suggest that focusing on infertility causes, the length of the infertility period, and the couples' partnership during treatment is needed to provide full support to men who have been diagnosed with infertility.
AIM: To dentify the predictors of the quality of life (QOL) of infertilemen who are undergoing infertility treatments in Japan and to create a QOL prediction model, with the main variables aimed at providing more adequate support to male patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the quantitative data that were collected from 321 returned self-report questionnaires that had been distributed to the men of 411 couples who were undergoing fertility treatment. The following four scales were used to measure the main outcomes: FertiQoL, psychological distress, spousal support, and workplace support. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, multiple regression analyses, and structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The number of returned questionnaires was 321 (78.1%). The QOL that was measured by FertiQoL was significantly lower in those men who were diagnosed with male factor infertility than in the other male patients. The two significant predictors of QOL were: spousal support and the infertility period. The structural equation modeling revealed that the same factors were related to QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Male factor infertility, less spousal support, and a longer period of infertility were associated with a poorer QOL of those men who were undergoing infertility treatment. These results suggest that focusing on infertility causes, the length of the infertility period, and the couples' partnership during treatment is needed to provide full support to men who have been diagnosed with infertility.
Authors: Marta Makara-Studzińska; Agnieszka Limanin; Agnieszka Anusiewicz; Paula Janczyk; Dorota Raczkiewicz; Anita Wdowiak-Filip; Michał Filip; Iwona Bojar; Krzysztof Lukaszuk; Artur Wdowiak Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-03 Impact factor: 3.390