# Effect of solution focused approach on women aged 35 or over with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: A quasi-experimental trial

## TL;DR

A study found that a solution-focused approach improved mental health and quality of life for older women undergoing IVF, but did not increase pregnancy rates.

## Contribution

This study evaluates the impact of a solution-focused approach on psychological and quality-of-life outcomes in older IVF patients.

## Key findings

- The solution-focused group showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores.
- Participants in the intervention group reported better sleep quality and higher satisfaction.
- The solution-focused approach did not significantly improve clinical pregnancy rates.

## Abstract

We aimed to explore the influence of solution-focused approach (SFA) on anxiety and depression, sleep quality, quality of life and clinical pregnancy rate among women aged 35 or over undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

The study was performed at the reproductive center in a public hospital in Lanzhou city. Totally, 112 women were enrolled in this study, and were divided into group SFA (n = 56) and group control (n = 56). The patients in the group SFA completed five sessions (30 minutes/turn), and patients in the group control received routine care.

The intervention group showed a significant decrease in anxiety (t =  11.906, P <  0.001) and depression scores (t =  14.991, P <  0.001), as well as PSQI scores (t =  7.055, P <  0.001), and increased FertiQoL scores (t =  -2.828, P <  0.001). Comparing the two groups after the intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significantly lower SAS scores (t =  -10.348, P <  0.001), SDS scores (t =  -8.416, P <  0.001), and PSQI scores (t =  -5.087, P <  0.001), while FertiQoL scores were higher than the control group (t =  2.389, P =  0.019). The intervention group reported a satisfaction rate of 96.2% to 100% with the SFA.

SFA can help relieve anxiety and depression, improve sleep quality and reproductive life quality. Improvement in psychological distress might not contribute to increasing female fecundity. Patients in the group SFA were satisfied with the intervention.

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300075444).