Patient-centred IVF


Book Description

Contemporary Dutch policy and legislation facilitate the use of high quality, accessible and affordable assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) to all citizens in need of them, while at the same time setting some strict boundaries on their use in daily clinical practices. Through the ethnographic study of a single clinic in this national context, Patient-Centred IVF examines how this particular form of medicine, aiming to empower its patients, co-shapes the experiences, views and decisions of those using these technologies. Gerrits contends that to understand the use of reproductive technologies in practice and the complexity of processes of medicalization, we need to go beyond 'easy assumptions' about the hegemony of biomedicine and the expected impact of patient-centredness.




Patient-Centred IVF


Book Description

Contemporary Dutch policy and legislation facilitate the use of high quality, accessible and affordable assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) to all citizens in need of them, while at the same time setting some strict boundaries on their use in daily clinical practices. Through the ethnographic study of a single clinic in this national context, Patient-Centred IVF examines how this particular form of medicine, aiming to empower its patients, co-shapes the experiences, views and decisions of those using these technologies. Gerrits contends that to understand the use of reproductive technologies in practice and the complexity of processes of medicalization, we need to go beyond ‘easy assumptions’ about the hegemony of biomedicine and the expected impact of patient-centredness.







Patient-Centered Assisted Reproduction


Book Description

Address the future of innovative reproductive technologies with experts in the fields of IVF, fertility preservation and laboratory advances. This essential resource examines the changing roles of IVF, and moves beyond the basics of reproductive medicine. This book introduces the optimization of care, to improve patient outcomes, whilst facing ethical challenges that accompany new technologies, and applying the patient-centered care model to improve both patient and staff retention. By showcasing the future of the field in terms of clinical practice and innovative laboratory technologies, this guide will support clinics worldwide to provide high-quality customer experience, maintaining a competitive edge, following increasing standardization of clinical and laboratory protocols. This invaluable guide features chapters on patient evaluation, predictive modelling, advances in pharmacology, and laboratories of the future. Written by research and clinical leaders from around the world, it describes ground-breaking innovative treatments and technologies, encompassing the care model in a holistic way.







Organization and Management of IVF Units


Book Description

Bringing together the latest information on the organization, management and quality of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) units, this is the first true field guide for the clinician working in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Divided thematically into four main sections, part one discussed the establishment and organization of the IVF unit, including location, design and construction, practical considerations for batching IVF cycles, and regulations and risk management. Part two, the largest section, covers the many aspects of overall quality management and its implementation – staff and patient management, cryobank and PGD/PGS management, and data management – as well as optimization of treatment outcomes and statistical process control analysis to assess quality variation. Part three addresses the relationship between IVF units and society at large, including the ethics of IVF treatment, as well as public/low-cost and private/corporate IVF units. Advertising and marketing for IVF units is discussed in part four, including the building and managing of websites and the use of traditional print and social media. With approximately five thousand IVF units worldwide and a growing number of training programs, Organization and Management of IVF Units is a key resource for clinic directors, unit managers, embryologists, quality experts, and students of reproductive medicine and clinical embryology.




Patient-Centered E-Health


Book Description

Presents the perspective of a distinct form of e-health that is patient-focused, patient-aware, patient-empowered, and patient-active. Addresses the special characteristics of the e-health domain through a user-centered design, providing foundational topics in areas such as patient-centered design methods, psychological aspects of online health communication, and e-health marketing.




IVF in the Medically Complicated Patient


Book Description

Each patient seeking assisted reproduction has a unique set of circumstances that affects the outcome of treatment. Particularly challenging are those patients with pre-existing medical conditions or those receiving medical therapies that may impact the safety and success of their IVF treatments. Prior identification and preparation of the patient




The Transition to Parenthood after IVF


Book Description

This book explores how experiences of IVF can affect the transition to parenthood for non-donor infertile couples. Drawing on empirical research and the broader social sciences literature, the book sets out the context of complex modern family building and discusses how infertility and IVF continue to shape parenthood and family building after successful IVF conception. It looks at how stigma, disclosure, loss, and gender affect the transition to parenthood, as well as what happens when parents start thinking about trying for siblings. We highlight the key roles for health care professionals (nurses, midwives, and health visitors) when caring for these new parents, in providing social support and facilitating good communication to foster emotional well-being. Ideal for nurses and midwives working in reproductive health as well as primary care nurses and health visitors, this applied text is a key reference for all healthcare professionals who meet people at any point on their journey to achieving pregnancy through IVF, during maternity care, and through the first few years of parenthood.




Biofortification for Nutrient-Rich Crops


Book Description

Biofortification is a widely accepted cost-effective agricultural strategy to improve the nutrient deficiency in populations. It is especially useful in low income and developing nations. Strategies for biofortification employ crop breeding, targeted genetic alteration, and agronomy, show promise for addressing multiple forms of human malnutrition. To increase the bioavailability of food nutrients, biofortification efforts must focus on improving the nutrient content of food and decreasing anti-nutrients. This book covers the basics of biofortification, international efforts, challenges, opportunities, and the use of the latest omics technologies in addition to classical approaches. It covers the most studied micronutrients, vitamin biofortification, and the new topics in dietary fibers, starch quality, and phenolics. It uniquely covers the antinutrients like phytic acid, ODAP, and Glucosinolates. It also reviews food bioavailability, scientific research, and meta-analyses to assess the health-promoting efficacy of different nutrients. The book attempts to cover all bases, from decision considerations to prospects, as well as biofortification of nutrients, antinutrient reduction, and the use of latest technology to aid in the nutritional enhancement of virtually all recorded food crops.