An Analysis of the Mental Health, Coping Ability, and Related Nursing Interventions for Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING

NURSING 598 GRADUATE SYNTHES

An Analysis of the Mental Health, Coping Ability, and Related Nursing Interventions for Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment

Tia Rosenstein

Faculty Sponsor: Linda Graf, DNP, CNM, WHNP-C, APN, RN

Background: Women experiencing the process of infertility treatment often face stressful events that can be discouraging and emotionally demanding. The physical demands are stressful and painful, however, the psychological issues can be just as challenging, often not addressed by the health care team. Mental stress, particularly anxiety and depression resulting from infertility, is an area often overlooked. Though, improving mental health for women undergoing the process of infertility treatment has no clear effect on whether the odds of achieving pregnancy will be improved or not, it is important for nurses to understand these stressful experiences. Understanding the patient’s psychological process or coping strategies can help nurses promote wellness while also creating a comfortable environment in which patients and their loved ones feel at ease.

Objectives: The purpose of this integrative literature review is to further evaluate the psychological processes and coping skills that are experienced and utilized by women undergoing infertility treatment and describe successful nursing strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Method: An integrative literature review was applied to investigate the current research within the past 10 years focusing on the mental health variables and coping abilities affecting infertile women during infertility treatment and to establish recommendations for evidence-based practice nursing interventions. Theoretical sources and primary research methods of evidence-based practice initiatives were attained to lead our cluster of findings in determining effective strategies/answers to our presented research questions.

Results: Common themes shared amongst articles reviewed targeted social/psychosocial support to be used as a buffer to increase quality of life in individuals suffering from an emotional burden. Stress, infertility related distress, infertility related perceived self-efficacy and adjustment, and interventions for infertility-related coping strategies were also included in these common findings.

Conclusion: This literature review demonstrated coping skills that are experienced by women undergoing infertility and the factors involved determining successful coping outcomes to fertility-related distress. The findings suggested infertility-related distress to be related to decreased quality of life, decreased infertility related perceived self-efficacy and adjustment to quality social support. Successful strategies in implementing appropriate nursing care to these patients include understanding the patient, attaining a human-caring relationship, and seeking the appropriate plan that best supports the patient’s individualistic needs.

Keywords: infertility, infertility treatment, reproduction technique, mental health, stress, coping, counseling, and nursing