e-Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2020

Defining the future of paediatric fertility care – the establishment of The Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Oncofertility Coalition (#325)

Catherine Allingham 1 , Lei Shong Lau 1 , Antoinette Anazodo 2 , Peter Downie 3 , Lynn Gillam 1 , Debra Gook 4 , John Heath 5 , Helen Irving 6 , Liane Lockwood 6 , Rebecca Manudhane 7 , Jennifer Marino 8 , Maria McCarthy 1 , Sarah Hunter 9 , Lisa Orme 1 , Pandora Patterson 10 , Michelle Peate 8 , Annie Ryan 11 , Jessica Ryan 12 , Sally Reid 7 , Michael Sullivan 1 , Chris Fraser 6 , Anusch Yazdani 13 , Fiona McDonald 10 , Kate White 14 , Yasmin Jayasinghe 1
  1. Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VICTORIA, Australia
  2. Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick
  3. Monash Children's Hospital, Clayton
  4. The Royal Women's Hospital, Flemington
  5. Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart
  6. Queensland Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane
  7. Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide
  8. University of Melbourne, Parkville
  9. Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland
  10. CanTeen, Sydney
  11. Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Nedlands
  12. Westmead Children's Hospital, Westmead
  13. Queensland Fertility Group, Brisbane
  14. University of Sydney, Camperdown

Introduction and aim: Reproductive technologies are rapidly evolving and the presence of fertility preservation programs are now a benchmark criteria for centres of excellence at US paediatric centres. However, oncofertility practice is complex in the young, posing significant ethical and logistical concerns. Therefore disparities in care are common. In December 2019 a meeting of oncofertility champions from all Australian states and NZ nominated by the Australian and New Zealand Children Haematology and Oncology Group (ANZCHOG), leading reproductive scientists and ethicists was convened at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. The meeting provided a forum to discuss the current state of fertility care across all 13 ANZCHOG centres, identify gaps in services and barriers to care, and make recommendations to guide national priorities. We report on findings from the meeting including service needs and barriers to care.

 

Methods: A representative from each of the 13 ANZCHOG centres presented their responses to a semi-structured survey about current service provision and barriers to care. Thematic qualitative analysis was undertaken and recommendations for future directions in fertility care were formulated.

 

Results/conclusions: Most ANZCHOG centres offered fertility discussion to patients but only 3 of 13 had formalised governance. A common thread in the dialog of attendees was a desire to provide the highest quality safe oncofertility care accessible to all families regardless of their geographical location or sociodemographic status. National priorities included paediatric specific oncofertility guidelines and standard operating protocols, implementation of oncofertility coordinators, clinician training, national data collection and benchmarks of care, Medicare funding, laboratory accreditation and surgical credentialing. Through binational governance, and translation of research into clinical practice, the coalition aims to work collaboratively towards developing a national roadmap and benchmarks in paediatric and AYA oncofertility care.