Abstract:
Complementary therapies are often used during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The aim of this study was to determine how UK fertility clinic websites are advertising complementary therapy add-ons. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority\'s (HFEA) \'Choose a Fertility Clinic\' website was used to identify fertility clinics and their websites. Acupuncture, reflexology, nutritional advice and miscellaneous complementary therapies were examined to determine treatment provision and costs. Treatment claims for acupuncture and reflexology were analysed using an inductive coding approach, and categorized depending on whether they pertained to holistic benefits, physiological benefits or improvements to IVF treatment outcome. At least one complementary therapy was advertised by 17 of 66 (26%) websites. Acupuncture was the most commonly advertised complementary therapy (16/66 clinic websites, 24%), followed by nutritionist services (11/66, 17%), reflexology (10/66, 15%) and other miscellaneous complementary therapies (9/66, 14%). Treatment costs were found to range from less than £50 for individual appointments to hundreds of pounds for treatment packages. Treatments were not always offered in-house at the fertility clinic, but rather patients were referred to an affiliated practitioner. Analysing claims relating to the complementary therapies highlighted that there were differences in the extent to which clinics claimed that complementary therapies benefited IVF, and that information occasionally acknowledged scientific research evidence but did not always present resources in an unbiased manner. Fertility clinic websites should provide accurate information for patients for complementary therapy add-ons. HFEA should add acupuncture and reflexology to their traffic-light system with amber and red ratings, respectively.
摘要:
在体外受精(IVF)治疗期间经常使用补充疗法。这项研究的目的是确定英国生育诊所网站如何宣传补充治疗附加产品。人类受精和胚胎学管理局(HFEA)的“选择生育诊所”网站用于识别生育诊所及其网站。针灸,反射疗法,研究了营养建议和其他补充疗法,以确定治疗的提供和费用。使用归纳编码方法分析了针灸和反射疗法的治疗要求,并根据它们是否涉及整体利益进行分类,对IVF治疗结果的生理益处或改善。66个网站中有17个(26%)刊登了至少一种补充疗法的广告。针灸是最常见的广告补充疗法(16/66诊所网站,24%),其次是营养师服务(11/66,17%),反射疗法(10/66,15%)和其他各种补充疗法(9/66,14%)。发现治疗费用从个人预约的不到50英镑到治疗套餐的数百英镑不等。生育诊所内部并不总是提供治疗,而是将患者转介给附属医生。分析与补充疗法有关的索赔强调,诊所声称补充疗法有利于IVF的程度存在差异,这些信息偶尔会承认科学研究证据,但并不总是以公正的方式提供资源。生育诊所网站应为患者提供准确的信息以进行补充治疗。HFEA应将针灸和反射疗法添加到其交通灯系统中,并带有琥珀色和红色等级,分别。