Perceived Versus Demonstrated Oncofertility Knowledge Among Oncology Providers.

Abstract

Purpose: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are at risk for treatment-related infertility, yet gaps in fertility preservation (FP) counseling persist. While patient-level barriers are well described, provider-level factors remain understudied. We evaluated oncology providers' perceived versus demonstrated knowledge of FP guidelines and identified barriers to oncofertility care.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of oncology providers at a single academic medical center caring for postpubertal AYA patients receiving gonadotoxic therapy. The survey assessed demographics, prior FP training, counseling and referral practices, and perceived barriers. Participants self-rated their FP knowledge and completed guideline-based clinical vignettes to assess demonstrated knowledge, enabling direct comparison of perceived versus demonstrated knowledge.

Results: Providers reported limited formal oncofertility training, with most rating prior education as fair or poor. Knowledge varied across FP strategies, with high familiarity for ovarian suppression and sperm cryopreservation and lower familiarity for ovarian transposition and male-directed surgical techniques. A trend toward discordance between perceived and demonstrated knowledge was observed but was not statistically significant. Awareness of institutional FP resources and referral pathways was limited. Providers most frequently cited patient-level barriers, including treatment urgency and cost, although provider- and system-level barriers were also reported.

Discussion: Oncology providers may overestimate oncofertility knowledge, contributing to inconsistent counseling and missed opportunities for FP. This pattern, combined with gaps in training and awareness of institutional protocols, highlights the need for competency-based education, clearer institutional communication, and improved referral systems. Objective assessments may better identify knowledge gaps and guide targeted interventions to support guideline-concordant FP care.