Are patients at risk for emotional maladjustment to fertility treatmant less willing to comply with treatment? : results from the validation of the portuguese version of rhew SCREENIVF

Abstract

Background: Many couples do not comply with fertility treatment because of its psychological burden. The SCREENIVF can be used to screen patients at risk for emotional maladjustment during treatment by assessing risk factors for maladjustment (distress, infertility cognitions and social support). The psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the SCREENIVF were examined. This study also investigated if patients at risk for emotional maladjustment during fertility treatment reported lower intentions to comply with treatment than patients not at risk and which risk factors were associated with lower compliance intentions. Methods: Sample was composed of 383 infertile women and men undergoing any stage of fertility treatment in Portugal. They completed the Portuguese version of the SCREENIVF and other self-report questionnaires assessing wellbeing, partner support, child wish and intentions to comply with treatment. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis showed good fit of the SCREENIVF structural model. SCREENIVF presented good reliability and was significantly associated with other measures of distress, partner support and child wish. Patients at risk and not at risk for maladjustment reported similar compliance intentions. Negative associations found between distress and compliance intentions were moderated by patients’ cognitions regarding control perceived over fertility and its treatment and capacity to accept a future without biological children. Conclusion: The Portuguese version of the SCREENIVF is valid and reliable. Patients are overconfident about their ability to comply with treatment. Patients need to have information and feel control over treatment in order to make informed and satisfactory decisions about treatment uptake.