Abstract
Background: Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) aims to improve knowledge and awareness of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and infertility-related services, with the aim of improving the quality of patient care.
Methods: A survey was developed and responded by a group of 10 ASPIRE board members to gather in-depth information about current practices, recommendations, and perceptions about SARS-CoV-2 and ART. The collected data were summarized and individual responses pooled among questions requiring voting. The overall rates were computed by response category. The group discussed the summary evidence, until a consensus was reached concerning a series of recommendation on how to make decisions concerning ART service provision during the current (and any future) pandemic. A two-tier recommendation was developed based on agreement rate and implementation priority. Tier 1 comprises recommendations in which the rate of “absolutely agree” responses were
≥
60%, whereas tier 2 refers to recommendations in which the rate of “absolutely agree” plus “agree” was >60%, but the rate of “absolutely agree” was
≤
50%.
Results: The survey was responded by all participants between July 24 and July 30, 2020. Nine tier 1 and five tier 2 recommendations are provided concerning prevention, testing, personal protective equipment, informed consent, and quality management. The former indicates the situations in which most individuals should receive the intervention/procedure, whereas the latter relates to those that may be suitable for individual clinics and patients.
Conclusions: This document provides the ASPIRE viewpoint on better managing infertile patients seeking ART during the COVID-19 pandemic. This expert opinion guide aims to help both competent authorities and healthcare providers to deliver quality and safe ART.
Methods: A survey was developed and responded by a group of 10 ASPIRE board members to gather in-depth information about current practices, recommendations, and perceptions about SARS-CoV-2 and ART. The collected data were summarized and individual responses pooled among questions requiring voting. The overall rates were computed by response category. The group discussed the summary evidence, until a consensus was reached concerning a series of recommendation on how to make decisions concerning ART service provision during the current (and any future) pandemic. A two-tier recommendation was developed based on agreement rate and implementation priority. Tier 1 comprises recommendations in which the rate of “absolutely agree” responses were
≥
60%, whereas tier 2 refers to recommendations in which the rate of “absolutely agree” plus “agree” was >60%, but the rate of “absolutely agree” was
≤
50%.
Results: The survey was responded by all participants between July 24 and July 30, 2020. Nine tier 1 and five tier 2 recommendations are provided concerning prevention, testing, personal protective equipment, informed consent, and quality management. The former indicates the situations in which most individuals should receive the intervention/procedure, whereas the latter relates to those that may be suitable for individual clinics and patients.
Conclusions: This document provides the ASPIRE viewpoint on better managing infertile patients seeking ART during the COVID-19 pandemic. This expert opinion guide aims to help both competent authorities and healthcare providers to deliver quality and safe ART.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 115-143 |
| Journal | Fertility & Reproduction |
| Volume | 02 |
| Issue number | 04 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2020 |
Keywords
- SARS-CoV-2
- COVID-19
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Intrauterine Insemination
- Infertility
- In Vitro Fertilization
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
- Guideline
- Expert Opinion