Conectar
by Lina Thirup, Anne-Bine Skytte, Ulrik Schiøler Kesmodel, Ida Vogel, Guido Pennings, Allan Pacey, Stina Lou
PurposeThe demand for sperm donation is increasing, yet only a small percentage of applicants are accepted, and little attention has been given to those who are rejected. The application process may reveal new medical or genetic information with potential personal and emotional consequences. The aim of this study was to explore how men experience rejection as sperm donors, including how they cope with the rejection and integrate potential new information into their lives.
MethodsWe conducted qualitative, in-depth interviews with 19 men rejected as sperm donors. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis.
ResultsSome men received new medical information that raised significant concerns, particularly regarding their health, fertility, and family. However, for most it was not the reason for rejection that affected them most, but the rejection itself. They had begun to identify as donors, and being turned down felt like a blow to their sense of self. Over time, participants used different coping strategies: information seeking, actionable reasoning, positive reframing, normalizing, and postponing. Although the experience was personally and emotionally challenging for many, it ultimately did not have a lasting negative impact on their lives.
ConclusionsSperm donation is not only a medical act but also tied to social identity, with rejection having personal and emotional consequences. For men whose rejection is based on new medical information that causes significant concerns, sperm banks should support rejected donors and help them exit the process positively. Further research is warranted to find out how this can be done.
To identify the assessments, diagnostic criteria and outcome measures reported in peer-reviewed literature for children with growing pains and persistent lower limb pain in the presence of restless leg syndrome (RLS).
Scoping review completed in line with Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidance
Five online databases were searched—MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and AMED—for records up to 14 October 2024.
Records reporting on the use of assessments, diagnostic criteria or outcome measures in children (aged 0–18 years) with growing pains or persistent lower limb pain in the presence of RLS. Articles were required to have a sample size of ≥10 and be available in English language.
Data were extracted by two independent reviewers and analysed using descriptive statistics.
Following review of 19 806 records, 61 unique records were included. Most were observational cross-sectional or case–control designs. Assessments were varied and primarily focused on body functions and pain characteristics rather than activities and participation. There were 15 unique diagnostic criteria reported for growing pains with limited consistency and sometimes conflict between included items. Outcomes measures were only reported in eight records and typically measured pain presence and intensity.
Assessment and subsequent diagnosis of growing pains and persistent pain in the presence of RLS lack consistency. Outcome measures were seldom used as most records were not designed to measure change over time. Standardised practices for assessment and management of these conditions may benefit clinicians and optimise patient care.
Many cancer treatments can result in reduced fertility, impacting survivors’ opportunities for biological parenthood. Fertility preservation (FP) methods for boys and young men, such as cryopreservation of testicular tissue or sperm, offer hope but are currently underused among young male patients with cancer. Despite guidelines recommending early discussion of fertility implications, many newly diagnosed males do not receive FP counselling or referral to fertility services. Male cancer survivors face a higher likelihood of infertility than their peers, yet focused FP decision-making support is lacking. This study aims to address this gap by developing and evaluating the first dedicated patient decision aid (PtDA) for boys and young male patients with cancer aged 11–25 years old, to help them make informed FP decisions before receiving cancer treatment.
The current study follows a multistage process: developing the PtDA, alpha testing for acceptability with former patients, parents and healthcare professionals, and beta testing in clinical settings to ensure effective integration into routine care. Using a combination of interviews and questionnaire data, this research will assess the PtDA’s acceptability and impact on decision-making.
This study has been prospectively registered on the Research Registry (10273). Ethics approval has been obtained from Leeds Beckett University and the National Health Service/Health Research Authority before undertaking data collection. The final resource will be disseminated widely and made freely available online via our dedicated Cancer, Fertility and Me website, for use in clinical and research practice.
Digital health interventions (DHIs) are prevalent and have been shown to help some people with long-term conditions (LTCs) to manage their condition. There are myriad options for digital delivery yet limited understanding of what modes of delivery are acceptable to people with LTCs. It is important to understand the acceptability of delivery methods of DHIs to inform future DHI development and promote engagement. This scoping review aims to explore the acceptability of the delivery of DHIs for people with LTCs.
This review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for scoping reviews and will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Scoping reviews extension checklist. Databases including MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, AHMED and PsycINFO will be searched for primary studies that provide data on preferences for delivery methods of DHIs by people with LTCs. Narrative analysis is anticipated, and a summary of the findings will be presented in a tabulated format.
Ethical approval will not be required for this scoping review. The findings will be disseminated via appropriate peer-reviewed journals and conferences and PhD theses.
FreshRSS 