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IVF 'add-ons' are extra procedures, techniques, or medicines offered alongside standard IVF treatments, often marketed to improve success rates. Examples include EmbryoGlue, endometrial scratching, and acupuncture. However, most lack clear evidence of effectiveness or safety. Despite this, over 80% of Australian IVF patients use add-ons, sometimes paying thousands of dollars.
Patients often rely on clinic websites and online forums for information, but these sources frequently exaggerate benefits while omitting information about costs and risks. There is no independent, evidence-based resource in Australia to guide decision-making, a gap recognized by both patients and government reports.
To address this, the investigators developed "Evidence-Based IVF (EBI)," a new website informed by patient decision aid standards, expertise in digital health and risk communication, and co-design sessions with IVF patients and professionals. The investigators now plan to evaluate how well it helps patients understand the evidence base for IVF add-ons.
In response to widespread calls for evidence-based resources about IVF options and add-ons in Australia, the investigators assembled a multidisciplinary team to co-design a novel website prototype referred to as 'Evidence-based IVF (EBI)'. Informed by patient decision aids standards, the MAGIC App, and applying the investigators' expertise in digital and risk communication and evidence-informed health decisions, the investigators undertook interviews with Australian IVF patients and professionals to test and iteratively modify a new resource. This trial will evaluate how this website performs in terms of gist knowledge and acceptability.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence-based IVF information | Experimental | Evidence-based IVF information |
|
| Control | Active Comparator | Control information |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence-based IVF website content | Other | The Evidence-based IVF website has been developed through a robust co-design process with IVF patients and clinicians, and the information about effectiveness and safety of add-ons was produced following established systematic review methodology of Cochrane (including risk of bias, GRADE, and TRACT assessment). They will view information about one of the following IVF add-ons: Endometrial receptivity array (ERA test), EmbryoGlue, or intralipid. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Gist comprehension using bespoke 5-item questionnaire | 5-item measure, correct answer = 2 points per item, max of 10 points, higher score means better comprehension Items 1-3. How does [EmbryoGlue/Intralipid/ERA test] affect the chance of [getting pregnant/having a baby/having a miscarriage] from IVF?
Developed from Smith 2012 | 24 hours |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion of participants with correct comprehension of magnitude of effect | An assessment of understanding of the magnitude of possible benefit as an absolute risk difference. "For every 100 people having IVF, roughly how many more would [get pregnant/have a baby/have a miscarriage] using EmbryoGlue?
(Only relevant for EmbryoGlue) |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDHS | Melbourne | Victoria | 3052 | Australia |
All survey data that does not contain personal data will be available
January 2026 and available for 5 years
Data/information from this research project may also be used in future projects that are closely related to this project, the same general area, or could make valuable use of this data. De-identified data may be shared with other researchers upon reasonable request to Sarah Lensen.
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| Control | Other | Participants will view information that has been generated by combining information from the top 3 websites retrieved on Google search of the add-on name. They will view information about one of the following IVF add-ons: Endometrial receptivity array (ERA test), EmbryoGlue, or intralipid. |
|
| 24 hours |
| Proportion of participants with correct understanding of populations IVF add-on is applicable to | "[EmbryoGlue/Intralipid/ERA test] is relevant to (tick all that apply)
| 24 hours |
| Proportion of participants with correct comprehension of cost of IVF add-on | Expected cost of the add-on "[EmbryoGlue/Intralipid/ERA test] usually costs
| 24 hours |
| Information satisfaction | How satisfied participants are with the information. Items will be combined to give a composite score out of 5 (higher score = more satisfaction). "Please indicate below what you thought about the information for each of the below categories The information was…
| 24 hours |
| Emotional response | Emotional response measured using the Berlin Emotional Responses to Risk instrument (Petrova 2023). Items will be combined to give a composite score out of 5 (higher score = better emotional response), with relevant items reverse scored. "How did you feel when you read the information about [EmbryoGlue/Intralipid/ERA test]?
Petrova D, Cokely ET, Sobkow A, Traczyk J, Garrido D, Garcia-Retamero R. Measuring feelings about choices and risks: The Berlin Emotional Responses to Risk Instrument (BERRI). Risk Anal. 2023 Apr;43(4):724-746. doi: 10.1111/risa.13946. Epub 2022 May 23. PMID: 35606164. | 24 hours |
| Hypothetical willingness to speak to IVF specialist about using the add-on | "If I was planning another IVF cycle or embryo transfer, I would speak to my IVF specialist about using [EmbryoGlue/Intralipid/ERA test]" Measured on a 5 point scale from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree | 24 hours |
| Self-assessed comprehension | A measure of how well participant believes they understood information provided "After reading this information, how well do you feel you understand the potential benefits and risks of [EmbryoGlue/Intralipid/ERA test]?
| 24 hours |
| Information length | Participants perspective on whether information provided was of appropriate length "How would you rate the length of information on the website?
| 24 hours |
| Recommend this information | Whether participant would be likely to recommend the information to people considering the add-on "Would you recommend this information to other people having IVF who are considering [EmbryoGlue/Intralipid/ERA test]?
| 24 hours |