Development of an instrument to examine nursing attitudes toward fertility preservation in oncology

Purpose/Objectives: To develop an instrument to measure staff nurse perceptions of the barriers to and benefts of addressing fertility preservation (FP) with patients newly diagnosed with cancer. Design: A prospective, nonrandomized instrument development approach. Setting: Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Sample: 224 RNs who care for patients with cancer. Methods: The instrument was developed with content experts and feld-tested with oncology staff nurses. Responses to a web-based survey were used in exploratory factor analysis. After refning the instrument, the authors conducted a confrmatory factor analysis with 230 web-based survey responses. Main Research Variables: Self-perceived barriers to providing FP options to patients newly diagnosed with cancer. Findings: The results supported a 15-item instrument with fve domains: (a) confdence, (b) self-awareness, (c) external barriers, (d) time barriers, and (e) perceived treatment barriers. Conclusions: This instrument can be used to explore oncology nurses' attitudes toward FP in newly diagnosed people with cancer in their reproductive years. Implications for Nursing: A more comprehensive understanding of attitudes and barriers related to FP will guide the building of optimal systems that support effective FP options, resources, and programs for individuals with cancer.