Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.64332/ujbb.3.1.4
Perceived Patient-Centered Infertility Care and Interest in Less Invasive Treatment Options: A Cross-Sectional Study
Katarina Grgić
Ana Tikvica Luetić
orcid.org/0000-0002-2074-8548
; Faculty of Health Studies, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Ingrid Marton
; Faculty of Health Studies, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
Lara Luetić
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Background: Infertility is a significant medical and
psychosocial burden for couples. Patient-centred care (PCC)
promotes informed decision-making by integrating patients’
values and preferences. Within this approach, it is important
to provide information about all therapeutic options,
including less invasive treatments such as Restorative
Reproductive Medicine (RRM).
Aim: To assess perceived patient-centred infertility care
among couples undergoing treatment at the University
Hospital Sveti Duh in Zagreb, and to examine the importance
they attribute to being offered less invasive treatment options
before medically assisted reproduction (MAR).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between
January and April 2022 at the University Hospital Sveti
Duh in Zagreb. The survey combined sociodemographic
questions with selected items from the Patient-Centredness
Questionnaire – Infertility (PCQ-I). The study included
couples undergoing infertility treatment during the study
period.
Results: A total of 101 couples participated in the study. Care
was generally perceived as mostly or fully patient-centered.
No significant link was found between being offered less
invasive methods and overall satisfaction (p=0.34). However,
respondents interested in less invasive treatments rated the
domain of respect for patients’ values and needs significantly
lower compared to those not interested (median 2.3 vs 2.7;
p=0.007). Married women reported significantly lower
satisfaction than unmarried women in several PCC domains,
including communication (median 2.42 vs 2.83; p=0.007) and
overall patient-centeredness (median 2.49 vs 2.85; p<0.001).
Conclusion: While infertility care at the University Hospital
Sveti Duh has been largely perceived as patient-centred,
less invasive and restorative reproductive options remain
insufficiently offered and integrated. Greater awareness
and availability of restorative and fertility-awareness-based
approaches may help strengthen shared decision-making and
better align infertility care with patient-centered principles.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
346987
URI
Publication date:
5.5.2026.
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