Digital Health Literacy and Oocyte Cryopreservation Among Women With Gynecological Cancer

NCT07701252 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRB00000844
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 158
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluated a digital health literacy education intervention related to oocyte cryopreservation among newly diagnosed women with gynecological cancer. A quasi-experimental single-group pre-post design was used at the Outpatient Clinics of the Oncology Center, Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt. A purposive sample of 158 women participated. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention and included knowledge about oocyte cryopreservation, attitudes toward oocyte cryopreservation, and decisional conflict. The intervention used videos, images, WhatsApp, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint slides, short text messages, simple Arabic-language educational materials, and follow-up through phone or social media when needed. Outcomes were reassessed at the end of week 4.

Conditions

Gynecological Cancer; Oocyte Cryopreservation; Digital Health Literacy; Fertility Preservation

Keywords

Oocyte Cryopreservation; Digital Health Literacy; Gynecological Cancer; Newly Diagnosed Women; Decisional Conflict; Knowledge; Attitude; Fertility Preservation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Knowledge Regarding Oocyte Cryopreservation

  Knowledge regarding oocyte cryopreservation was assessed using the Oocyte Cryopreservation Knowledge Questionnaire. The questionnaire included 20 multiple-choice questions covering general information about gynecological cancer and fertility, fertility preservation options, and oocyte cryopreservation. Each correct answer was scored 1 and each incorrect or "don't know" answer was scored 0. The total score ranged from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher knowledge. Scores of 60% or higher were classified as satisfactory knowledge.

  Pre-intervention and end of week 4

• Change in Attitude Toward Oocyte Cryopreservation

  Attitude toward oocyte cryopreservation was assessed using an attitude scale developed by the researchers after reviewing the literature. The scale included 15 statements: 11 positive statements and 4 negative statements. Responses were scored using a three-point Likert scale: agree = 2, uncertain = 1, and disagree = 0. Negatively worded items were reverse scored. The total score ranged from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating a more positive attitude toward oocyte cryopreservation. Scores of 70% or higher were classified as positive attitude.

  Pre-intervention and end of week 4

• Change in Decisional Conflict Regarding Oocyte Cryopreservation

  Decisional conflict regarding oocyte cryopreservation was assessed using the 16-item Decisional Conflict Scale. Items were organized into five domains related to feeling informed, value clarification, support, uncertainty, and effective decision-making. Responses were scored on a five-point scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The total score ranged from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater decisional conflict. Scores less than 25 indicated low decisional conflict, scores between 25 and 37.5 indicated moderate decisional conflict, and scores above 37.5 indicated high decisional conflict.

  Pre-intervention and end of week 4

Study Arms (1)

Digital Health Literacy Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received a digital health literacy education intervention related to oocyte cryopreservation. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention.

Behavioral: Digital Health Literacy Education Intervention

Interventions

Digital Health Literacy Education Intervention BEHAVIORAL

The intervention included videos, visually engaging images, WhatsApp groups, Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings, PowerPoint slides, short text messages, interactive visuals/animations, simple Arabic-language educational materials, and instructive pictures. The educational content covered general information about gynecological cancer and fertility, fertility-preservation options, and detailed information about oocyte cryopreservation, including definition, indications, advantages/benefits, and process/steps. Content also included embryo cryopreservation, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, fertility-sparing surgery, and ovarian transposition. Follow-up was conducted by phone or social media as needed.

Digital Health Literacy Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Newly diagnosed women with gynecological cancers who had not received any treatment.
• Women of reproductive age, 18-45 years.
• Women with gynecological cancers who had not received cryopreservation instructions before.
• Women who had a smartphone, internet connection, could use social media, and had access to the internet through their phone.

You may not qualify if:

• Women with gynecological cancer who had received cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy.
• Women diagnosed with learning difficulties, such as dementia or vision impairment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Benha University: lead
• Mansoura University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Oncology Center, Mansoura University Hospital

Al Mansurah, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Ehrbar V, Urech C, Rochlitz C, Zanetti Dallenbach R, Moffat R, Stiller R, Germeyer A, Nawroth F, Dangel A, Findeklee S, Tschudin S. Randomized controlled trial on the effect of an online decision aid for young female cancer patients regarding fertility preservation. Hum Reprod. 2019 Sep 29;34(9):1726-1734. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dez136.

  PMID: 31398258 RESULT

• O'Connor AM. Validation of a decisional conflict scale. Med Decis Making. 1995 Jan-Mar;15(1):25-30. doi: 10.1177/0272989X9501500105.

  PMID: 7898294 RESULT

• Nelson LA, Pennings JS, Sommer EC, Popescu F, Barkin SL. A 3-Item Measure of Digital Health Care Literacy: Development and Validation Study. JMIR Form Res. 2022 Apr 29;6(4):e36043. doi: 10.2196/36043.

  PMID: 35486413 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology

Model Details: A quasi-experimental single-group pre-post study. All participants received the digital health literacy education intervention related to oocyte cryopreservation. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 8, 2026
• First Posted: July 14, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 30, 2026
• Study Completion: March 30, 2026
• Last Updated: July 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: Available upon reasonable request after publication.
• Access Criteria: Researchers may request access to the data from the corresponding author.

Locations

EG (1)