NCT06885151

A New Website for Australian IVF Patients: 'Evidence-based IVF'

A New Website for Australian IVF Patients 'Evidence-based IVF': an Online Randomised Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1,217 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Melbourne · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

IVF 'add-ons' are extra procedures, techniques, or medicines offered alongside standard IVF treatments, often marketed to improve success rates. Examples include EmbryoGlue, endometrial scratching, and acupuncture. However, most lack clear evidence of effectiveness or safety. Despite this, over 80% of Australian IVF patients use add-ons, sometimes paying thousands of dollars. Patients often rely on clinic websites and online forums for information, but these sources frequently exaggerate benefits while omitting information about costs and risks. There is no independent, evidence-based resource in Australia to guide decision-making, a gap recognized by both patients and government reports. To address this, the investigators developed "Evidence-Based IVF (EBI)," a new website informed by patient decision aid standards, expertise in digital health and risk communication, and co-design sessions with IVF patients and professionals. The investigators now plan to evaluate how well it helps patients understand the evidence base for IVF add-ons.

Detailed description

In response to widespread calls for evidence-based resources about IVF options and add-ons in Australia, the investigators assembled a multidisciplinary team to co-design a novel website prototype referred to as 'Evidence-based IVF (EBI)'. Informed by patient decision aids standards, the MAGIC App, and applying the investigators' expertise in digital and risk communication and evidence-informed health decisions, the investigators undertook interviews with Australian IVF patients and professionals to test and iteratively modify a new resource. This trial will evaluate how this website performs in terms of gist knowledge and acceptability.

Conditions

• IVF
• IVF Treatment
• IVF-ET
• IVF/ICSI

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Evidence-based IVF website content	The Evidence-based IVF website has been developed through a robust co-design process with IVF patients and clinicians, and the information about effectiveness and safety of add-ons was produced following established systematic review methodology of Cochrane (including risk of bias, GRADE, and TRACT assessment). They will view information about one of the following IVF add-ons: Endometrial receptivity array (ERA test), EmbryoGlue, or intralipid.
OTHER	Control	Participants will view information that has been generated by combining information from the top 3 websites retrieved on Google search of the add-on name. They will view information about one of the following IVF add-ons: Endometrial receptivity array (ERA test), EmbryoGlue, or intralipid.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-19
• Primary completion: 2025-04-06
• Completion: 2025-04-06
• First posted: 2025-03-20
• Last updated: 2025-06-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Australia