Influence of a patient education and care program on women undergoing non-assisted reproductive technology fertility treatment.

PURPOSE: To determine the influence of a patient education and care program on the quality of life (QOL) of female patients undergoing non-assisted reproductive technology (ART) fertility treatment. METHODS: Participants completed the MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and fertility QOL (FertiQoL) questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. The responses of patients who underwent three sessions of the program (at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months of treatment) were compared with those of patients who did not receive the program. RESULTS: This study compared 69 patients who received an additional care program with 104 patients in the control group, all from 13 facilities. Treatment FertiQoL responses (p = 0.004) and treatment tolerability (p = 0.043) differed between the program and control groups at 3 months using the repeated measures mixed model. The cost of treatment per pregnancy was lower in the program group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The patient education and care program provided by reproductive fertility specialists or fertility nurses during non-ART fertility programs improves patient satisfaction.

Changes in balance strategy in the third trimester.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to elucidate changes in balance strategy during pregnancy from a kinematics perspective. [Subjects] Eight pregnant women and eight non-pregnant women participated. [Methods] A 3D motion analysis system, two force plates, and 10 infrared cameras were used to measure the kinematics of the balance strategy. The 3D motion analysis system was used to analyze performance of the functional reach test (FRT). Parameters were compared between non-pregnant women and pregnant women during each trimester, and between pregnant women in the second and third trimesters. [Results] The FRT of pregnant women was shorter than that of non-pregnant women. Bilateral hip joint extension moments were smaller in pregnant women in the second and third trimesters compared to non-pregnant women. Bilateral ankle plantar flexion moments were larger in pregnant women in their third trimester compared to non-pregnant women. In pregnant women, the right ankle plantar flexion moment was larger in the third trimester than in the second trimester. [Conclusion] These results suggest that forward reach distance is reduced, and that the ankle joint strategy takes precedence over the hip joint strategy in maintaining balance during pregnancy compared to non-pregnancy.