Samenvatting

PurposeThis study evaluated current fertility care forCKD patients by assessing the perspectives of nephrolo-gists and nurses in the dialysis department.MethodsTwo different surveys were distributed forthis cross-sectional study among Dutch nephrologists(N=312) and dialysis nurses (N=1211). ResultsResponse rates were 50.9% (nephrologists) and45.4% (nurses). Guidelines on fertility care were presentin the departments of 9.0% of the nephrologists and 15.6%of the nurses. 61.7% of the nephrologists and 23.6% ofthe nurses informed ≥50% of their patients on potentialchanges in fertility due to a decline in renal function.Fertility subjects discussed by nephrologists included “wishto have children” (91.2%), “risk of pregnancy for patients’health” (85.8%), and “inheritance of the disease” (81.4%).Barriers withholding nurses from discussing FD werebased on “the age of the patient” (62.6%), “insufficienttraining” (55.2%), and “language and ethnicity” (51.6%).29.2% of the nurses felt competent in discussing fertility,8.3% had sufficient knowledge about fertility, and 75.7%needed to expand their knowledge. More knowledge andcompetence were associated with providing fertility healthcare (p< 0.01). ConclusionsIn most nephrology departments, the guide-lines to appoint which care provider should provide fertil-ity care to CKD patients are absent. Fertility counselingis routinely provided by most nephrologists, nurses oftenskip this part of care mainly due to insufficiencies in self-imposed competence and knowledge and barriers based oncultural diversity. The outcomes identified a need for fer-tility guidelines in the nephrology department and trainingand education for nurses on providing fertility care. CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/