34 Using a video to introduce fertility preservation to female adolescents with cancer

Paediatric and adolescent cancer is a major health issue, with tens of thousands of new diagnoses each year in North America and increased incidence over time. Improved survival means that the long-term consequences of paediatric cancer are increasingly significant. Adolescents form a unique and understudied group of oncology patients, with unique needs, including discussions on infertility. Female oncology patients risk primary ovarian insufficiency, with implications for future fertility, due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Still, infertility discussions are inconsistently provided. Options for egg cryopreservation either before or after chemotherapy exist for females, but discussing these topics can be overwhelming for patients and families. This paper aims to assess the understandability, actionability, and readability of a fertility preservation (FP) educational video, as well as patient and caregiver pre- and post-video perceptions and knowledge. A video was created by the institution’s Fertility Preservation Program to explain relevant anatomy, pathophysiology of ovulation and process of cryopreservation. Understandability and actionability were evaluated using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials (PEMAT-AV) and readability using the SMOG and Flesch-Kincaid indices. Patient and caregiver perceptions and knowledge growth were captured using pre-post questionnaires. Patients (n=30) and their caregivers (n=30) were recruited in Oncology clinics over two months, using a convenience sample. Questionnaire responses were analyzed using SPSS to calculate descriptive statistics to conduct correlation analyses. The average PEMAT-A/V score was 79% (±11.3) for understandability and 72% (±13.1) for actionability. A score of 70% is regarded as acceptable. The readability assessment determined that the video script was, on average, at a grade 8 reading level. Patients’ interest in learning about FP increased, with nearly 30% of those initially uninterested or unsure wanting to learn more after viewing the video. Patients’ general knowledge on FP increased from the pre- to post-video questionnaire, from a mean score of 64% initially (±21%), to a mean score of 78% (±19%) after watching the video (Z = -3.364, p = 0.001). On average, overall satisfaction with the video was 86% (±8.2%). Adolescent cancer patients commonly use online tools for researching health questions. This study demonstrates that the video is understandable and provides guidance for future discussion. It shows that videos can spark interest in sensitive discussions and can improve fertility knowledge. This video may encourage providers to more consistently initiate discussions about infertility. Furthermore, the video can be translated for related topics to help provide accurate information in a youth-friendly medium.