Effect of Hope-Oriented Group Counseling on Mental Health of Infertile Women with Failed IVF Cycles: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Considering the prevalence of infertility in the community and the consequences of failure of infertility treatments on women's mental health, interventions that can control stress, anxiety and depression in infertile women with a history of IVF failure will be very helpful. This study aimed to determine the effects of hope-oriented group counseling on mental health (primary outcome) and quality of life (QoL) (secondary outcome) of women with failed IVF cycles.Method: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 women with failed IVF cycles visiting Infertility Clinic at Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital of Tabriz- Iran. Participants were allocated to the intervention group (n=30) and control group (n=30) based on a randomized block design. Hope-oriented group counseling was provided to the intervention group in six 45-60 minute sessions (once a week). The control group only received routine care to undergo another IVF cycle. The author filled out the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the SF-12 Quality of Life Scale by interviewing the participants before the intervention and one week and one month after the intervention. Results: There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the socio-demographic profile of participants (P>0.05). The post-intervention mean score of stress (modified mean difference=-1.7, 95% confidence interval: -3.2 to -0.3, P=0.018) and depression (modified mean difference=-3.1, 95% confidence interval: -4.7 to -1.5, P<0.001) was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control. Although the mean anxiety score was lower in the intervention group compared to the control, the difference between them was not statistically significant (modified mean difference= -1.1, 95% confidence interval: -2.6 to 0.4, P=0.153). The mean score of QoL was significantly higher in the intervention group than that of the control group (modified mean difference= 6.9, 95% confidence interval: 5.1 to 8.8, P<0.001).Conclusion: Hope-oriented group counseling was effective in reducing stress and depression and improving QoL in women with failed IVF cycles. It is recommended to use this counseling approach, along with other methods, to improve the mental health of women with failed IVF cycles.