Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34020980›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

VALUE study: a protocol for a qualitative semi-structured interview study of IVF add-ons use by patients, clinicians and embryologists in the UK and Australia.

Sarah C Armstrong, Sarah Lensen, Emily Vaughan, Elaine Wainwright, Michelle Peate, Adam H Balen, Cynthia M Farquhar, Allan Pacey

Open access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.

Sarah C ArmstrongOncology and Metabolism, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK scarmstrong1@sheffield.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0001-7308-520X
Sarah LensenObstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1694-1142
Emily VaughanAcademic Women's Health Unit, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-8843-2497
Elaine WainwrightPsychology Department, Bath Spa University, Bath, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5678-4412
Michelle PeateObstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2903-4688
Adam H BalenObstetrics and Gynaecology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5938-8319
Cynthia M FarquharObstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-3685-3553
Allan PaceyOncology and Metabolism, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4387-8871
The University of Melbourne · AUUniversity of Sheffield · GBBath Spa University · GBLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · GBNorth Bristol NHS Trust · GBUniversity of Auckland · NZ

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFor couples undergoing assisted reproduction, a plethora of adjuncts are available; these are known as 'add-ons'. Most add-ons are not supported by good quality randomised trial evidence of efficacy, with some proven to be ineffective. However, estimates suggest that over 70% of fertility clinics provide at least one add-on, often at extra cost to the patient. This study has three aims. First, to undertake a survey of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics in the UK to ascertain which add-ons are being offered and at what cost. Second, to undertake qualitative semi-structured interviews of patients, clinicians and embryologists, to explore their opinions and beliefs surrounding add-ons. Third, to review the interpretation of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority traffic light system, to better understand the information required by IVF patients, clinicians and embryologists when making decisions about add-ons. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: All UK IVF clinics will be contacted by email and invited to complete an online survey. The survey will ask them which add-ons they offer, at what cost per cycle and how information is shared with patients. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted in the UK and Australia with three groups of participants: (i) fertility patients; (ii) clinicians and (iii) embryologists. Participants for the interviews will be recruited via social media channels, website adverts, email and snowball sampling. Up to 20 participants will be recruited for each group in each country. Following an online consent process, interviews will be conducted via video-conferencing software, transcribed verbatim and data subjected to inductive thematic analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been granted by the Universities of Sheffield, Bath Spa and Melbourne. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated to regulatory bodies in the UK and Australia. A lay summary of findings will be shared via Fertility Network, UK.

Indexed as

FertilityFertilization in VitroAustraliaHumansQualitative ResearchUnited Kingdommedical ethicsqualitative researchreproductive medicinesubfertility

Identifiers

PMID34020980
PMCPMC8144055
OpenAlexW3161735229

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.