Digital Health Literacy and Oocyte Cryopreservation Among Women With Gynecological Cancer

Digital Health Literacy and Oocyte Cryopreservation: Perspectives of Newly Diagnosed Gynecological Cancer Women

This study evaluated a digital health literacy education intervention related to oocyte cryopreservation among newly diagnosed women with gynecological cancer. A quasi-experimental single-group pre-post design was used at the Outpatient Clinics of the Oncology Center, Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt. A purposive sample of 158 women participated. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention and included knowledge about oocyte cryopreservation, attitudes toward oocyte cryopreservation, and decisional conflict. The intervention used videos, images, WhatsApp, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint slides, short text messages, simple Arabic-language educational materials, and follow-up through phone or social media when needed. Outcomes were reassessed at the end of week 4.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Gynecological Cancer; Fertility Preservation; Oocyte Cryopreservation; Digital Health Literacy
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Digital Health Literacy Education Intervention

Detailed Description

Newly diagnosed women with gynecological cancer may face fertility-related concerns before starting cancer treatment. This study assessed whether a digital health literacy education intervention related to oocyte cryopreservation could improve women's knowledge, attitudes, and decisional conflict.

The study used a quasi-experimental single-group pre-post design. It was conducted at the Outpatient Clinics of the Oncology Center at Mansoura University Hospital, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. The study included 158 newly diagnosed women with gynecological cancer selected using purposive sampling.

Eligible participants were women aged 18 to 45 years who were newly diagnosed with gynecological cancer, had not received cancer treatment, had not received cryopreservation instructions before, and had access to a smartphone, internet connection, and social media. Women who had received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy, or who had learning difficulties such as dementia or vision impairment, were excluded.

were women Baseline data were collected using a structured interview questionnaire and study tools assessing knowledge about gynecological cancer and oocyte cryopreservation, attitudes toward oocyte cryopreservation, and decisional conflict. The digital health literacy intervention was delivered using videos, visually engaging images, WhatsApp groups, Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings, PowerPoint slides, short text messages, interactive visuals and animations, simple Arabic language, and instructive pictures. The educational content covered general information about gynecological cancer and fertility, fertility preservation options, and detailed information about oocyte cryopreservation, including definition, indications, advantages, benefits, and process steps. Content also included embryo cryopreservation, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, fertility-sparing surgery, and ovarian transposition.

Four sessions were delivered, with 20 women per group. Each session was held three days per week on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday and lasted 30 to 45 minutes. Follow-up was conducted by phone or social media as needed to reinforce planning and address barriers. Outcomes were reassessed at the end of week 4 using the same instruments.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 158
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Dakahlia Governorate
    • Al Mansurah, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt
      • Oncology Center, Mansoura University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newly diagnosed women with gynecological cancers who had not received any treatment.
• Women of reproductive age, 18-45 years.
• Women with gynecological cancers who had not received cryopreservation instructions before.
• Women who had a smartphone, internet connection, could use social media, and had access to the internet through their phone.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women with gynecological cancer who had received cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy.
• Women diagnosed with learning difficulties, such as dementia or vision impairment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Digital Health Literacy Intervention; Participants received a digital health literacy education intervention related to oocyte cryopreservation. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention.

Behavioral: Digital Health Literacy Education Intervention; The intervention included videos, visually engaging images, WhatsApp groups, Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings, PowerPoint slides, short text messages, interactive visuals/animations, simple Arabic-language educational materials, and instructive pictures. The educational content covered general information about gynecological cancer and fertility, fertility-preservation options, and detailed information about oocyte cryopreservation, including definition, indications, advantages/benefits, and process/steps. Content also included embryo cryopreservation, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, fertility-sparing surgery, and ovarian transposition. Follow-up was conducted by phone or social media as needed.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Knowledge Regarding Oocyte Cryopreservation	Knowledge regarding oocyte cryopreservation was assessed using the Oocyte Cryopreservation Knowledge Questionnaire. The questionnaire included 20 multiple-choice questions covering general information about gynecological cancer and fertility, fertility preservation options, and oocyte cryopreservation. Each correct answer was scored 1 and each incorrect or "don't know" answer was scored 0. The total score ranged from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher knowledge. Scores of 60% or higher were classified as satisfactory knowledge.	Pre-intervention and end of week 4
Change in Attitude Toward Oocyte Cryopreservation	Attitude toward oocyte cryopreservation was assessed using an attitude scale developed by the researchers after reviewing the literature. The scale included 15 statements: 11 positive statements and 4 negative statements. Responses were scored using a three-point Likert scale: agree = 2, uncertain = 1, and disagree = 0. Negatively worded items were reverse scored. The total score ranged from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating a more positive attitude toward oocyte cryopreservation. Scores of 70% or higher were classified as positive attitude.	Pre-intervention and end of week 4
Change in Decisional Conflict Regarding Oocyte Cryopreservation	Decisional conflict regarding oocyte cryopreservation was assessed using the 16-item Decisional Conflict Scale. Items were organized into five domains related to feeling informed, value clarification, support, uncertainty, and effective decision-making. Responses were scored on a five-point scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The total score ranged from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater decisional conflict. Scores less than 25 indicated low decisional conflict, scores between 25 and 37.5 indicated moderate decisional conflict, and scores above 37.5 indicated high decisional conflict.	Pre-intervention and end of week 4

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Benha University
• Collaborators: Mansoura University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Ehrbar V, Urech C, Rochlitz C, Zanetti Dallenbach R, Moffat R, Stiller R, Germeyer A, Nawroth F, Dangel A, Findeklee S, Tschudin S. Randomized controlled trial on the effect of an online decision aid for young female cancer patients regarding fertility preservation. Hum Reprod. 2019 Sep 29;34(9):1726-1734. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dez136.
• O'Connor AM. Validation of a decisional conflict scale. Med Decis Making. 1995 Jan-Mar;15(1):25-30. doi: 10.1177/0272989X9501500105.
• Nelson LA, Pennings JS, Sommer EC, Popescu F, Barkin SL. A 3-Item Measure of Digital Health Care Literacy: Development and Validation Study. JMIR Form Res. 2022 Apr 29;6(4):e36043. doi: 10.2196/36043.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): March 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 8, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 8, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 14, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 8, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Knowledge; Attitude; Gynecological Cancer; Fertility Preservation; Decisional Conflict; Oocyte Cryopreservation; Digital Health Literacy; Newly Diagnosed Women
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB00000844

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Data supporting the study findings will be available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Available upon reasonable request after publication.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Researchers may request access to the data from the corresponding author.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No