Effectiveness of a web-based partnership support program for preventing decline in the quality of life of male patients undergoing infertility treatment: A quasi-experimental study

Aim

During infertility treatment, distress increases and the quality of life declines in both men and women over time. Thus, both men and women need equal support and care. In this study, we aimed to explore the effectiveness of a web-based partnership support program in preventing quality of life deterioration and reducing emotional distress in men undergoing infertility treatment.

Methods

We conducted a non-randomized controlled trial involving 151 infertile couples in Japan from January to April of 2022. The program consisted of couple discussion, information provision for couple cooperation, and communication techniques. We used a quasi-experimental design (non-equivalence two groups pre-test and post-test with comparison) involving purposive sampling. Data were collected using the FertiQoL tool and Distress scales. Analyses were conducted by a two-way factorial analysis of variance using SPSS software.

Results

Data for the analysis were included for the intervention group (n = 58) and the control group (n = 62) (valid response rate 79.5%). There were no significant interaction effects between program and time in the FertiQoL and Distress scales. However, there were significant interaction effects between program and time in the Relational (p < .001) and Social (p = .044) subscales. Subgroup analysis showed that in the non-assisted reproductive technologies group, deterioration in the quality of life was more effectively prevented in the intervention group than in the control group.

Conclusions

The web-based partnership support program appeared to be effective in preventing the deterioration of the quality of life of only men undergoing non-assisted reproductive technology treatment.