Psychooncology. 2026 Nov;35(11):e70640. doi: 10.1002/pon.70640.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Despite advances in cancer treatments, fertility loss remains a significant psychological burden, and counseling is often inadequate. This study aimed to examine the effect of counseling based on Watson’s Human Caring Theory (HCT) on reproductive concerns and patient satisfaction in women diagnosed with cancer.
METHODS: This outcome assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted between October 2023 and September 2024 with 50 women aged 18-45 years diagnosed with cancer, who were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n = 25) or the control group (n = 25). A pre-test, mid-test, and post-test design was applied to the intervention group, while a pre-test and post-test design was applied to the control group. The intervention group received three sessions of counseling based on Watson’s Human Caring Theory, whereas the control group received routine care, consisting of a single session of fertility counseling provided at the study center. Data were collected using a descriptive information form, the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer (RCAC) Scale, and the Patient Satisfaction Evaluation Form Based on Watson’s Processes of Healing.
RESULTS: At post-test, the intervention group had significantly lower scores than the control group on the total RCAC score (Cohen’s d = 0.74) and on the Child Health and Future Concerns and Acceptance Concerns subscales, whereas no significant between group differences were observed for the Fertility and Partner Relationship Concerns and Pregnancy Concern subscales. Participants in the intervention group reported uniformly high patient satisfaction scores; however, interpretation of this outcome is limited by ceiling effects and the restricted discriminative capacity of the measure. These findings were further contextualized through a descriptive summary of participants’ open-ended feedback, which highlighted recurring topics of emotional relief, informed decision-making, and practical coping.
CONCLUSIONS: In this single-centre trial, counseling based on Watson’s Human Caring Theory was associated with lower reproductive concerns in women diagnosed with cancer. Although satisfaction scores in the intervention group were uniformly high, this outcome should be interpreted with caution given the ceiling effect and the limited discriminative capacity of the measure. These preliminary findings require confirmation in larger, multicentre trials with longer follow-up.
PMID:43001036 | DOI:10.1002/pon.70640
