Asian Nurs Res.  2014 Mar;8(1):49-56.

Effect of a Mind-Body Therapeutic Program for Infertile Women Repeating In Vitro Fertilization Treatment on Uncertainty, Anxiety, and Implantation Rate

• Kim M
• Kim S
• Chang SB
• Yoo JS
• Kim HK
• Cho JH

Abstract

PURPOSE
The study aimed to develop a mind-body therapeutic program and evaluate its effects on mitigating uncertainty, anxiety, and implantation rate of second-trial in vitro fertilization (IVF) women.
METHODS
This study employed a nonequivalent control group nonsynchronized design. The conceptual framework and program content were developed from a preliminary survey of eight infertile women and the extensive review of the literature. Program focuses on three uncertainty-induced anxieties in infertile women: cognitive, emotional, and biological responses. To evaluate the effect of the intervention, the infertile women with unknown cause preparing for a second IVF treatment were sampled at convenience (26 experimental and 24 control).
RESULTS
The experimental group in the study showed greater decrease in uncertainty and anxiety in premeasurements and postmeasurements than the control group did. However, no statistically significant differences in the implantation rate between groups were observed.
CONCLUSION
This study is meaningful as the first intervention program for alleviating uncertainty and anxiety provided during the IVF treatment process. The positive effects of the mind-body therapeutic program in alleviating both uncertainty and anxiety have direct meaning for clinical applications.

Keyword

anxiety; fertilization in vitro; infertility; mind-body therapies; uncertainty

MeSH Terms

Adult
*Anxiety/psychology/therapy
Case-Control Studies
Embryo Implantation
Female
Fertilization in Vitro/*psychology
Humans
Infertility, Female/*psychology
Mind-Body Therapies/*methods
Treatment Outcome
*Uncertainty
Women/*psychology