Effect of health education on mood and pregnancy rate among infertile patients undergoing assisted reproduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Infertility is associated with significant psychological distress, and health education is widely used to improve reproductive knowledge and support treatment outcomes in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, evidence regarding its effectiveness in enhancing psychological well-being and pregnancy outcomes remains limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of health education on cognitive outcomes, psychological state, and pregnancy rates in infertile patients receiving ART.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases from inception to October 2023, using combinations of terms such as "ART," "Embryo Transfer," "Reproductive Techniques, Assisted," "In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer," "Randomized controlled trial," and "Infertility." Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials that investigated health education interventions in ART patients. Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager version 5.3.

RESULTS

A total of eleven randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 1324 participants. Seven studies reported health outcome scores, showing a significant improvement following health education interventions (Z = 19.17, P <.001). The pooled analysis of health knowledge awareness across 4 treatment stages also yielded a Z score of 9.40 (P <.001). Additionally, patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the observation group (Z = 6.36, P <.001).

CONCLUSION

Health education appears to significantly improve cognitive understanding, health awareness, and patient satisfaction among individuals undergoing ART. These findings support the incorporation of structured health education at multiple stages of ART to enhance psychological adaptation and clinical outcomes.