The perspectives and needs for fertility protection decision-making in patients of childbearing age with breast cancer: A qualitative study

Objective To explore the perspectives and needs of fertility protection decision-making in patients of childbearing age with breast cancer. Methods Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted in a tertiary hospital in Baoding, China from July to October 2023. Purposive sampling was used to ensure the diversity of samples. The interview guide is based on the literature review and the discussions within the research team. Traditional content analysis approach was used for data analysis. Results A total of 18 participants were interviewed. The three themes that emerged from the data included conflicts between subjective desires and concerns, coexistence of objective benefits and challenges, and decision-making support needs. There were five sub-themes in the conflicts between subjective desires and concerns, five sub-themes in the coexistence of objective benefits and challenges, and two sub-themes in the decision-making support needs. Conclusions Patients faced a difficult trade-off of desires and concerns, benefits and challenges regarding fertility protection decisions, and there are a number of unmet needs. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to patients' desire for fertility, and provide them with timely fertility protection information and sufficient fertility counseling after cancer diagnosis to alleviate unnecessary concerns, which could help them make satisfactory fertility protection decisions, and improve their quality of life.