Knowledge attitude and practice toward fertility preservation in patients with gynecologic cancers in Zhejiang of China

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding fertility preservation among obstetrics and gynecology healthcare providers and medical interns in Zhejiang Province, China. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinhua maternal and Child Health care Hospital between April 16th and 23rd, 2024, wherein demographic data and KAP scores were collected via a self-made questionnaire. A total of 531 participants were enrolled (mean age: 27.05 ± 8.93 years; 475 (89.45%) females). The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 7.58 ± 4.28 (possible range: 0–18), 27.19 ± 3.86 (possible range: 7–35), and 27.21 ± 6.62 (possible range: 7–35), respectively. Mediation analysis based on SEM showed that knowledge was significantly associated with attitude (β = 0.30, P < 0.001), attitude was significantly associated with practice (β = 0.70, P < 0.001), and knowledge was associated with practice both directly (β = 0.26, P < 0.001) and indirectly via attitude (β = 0.21, P < 0.001). Obstetrics and gynecology healthcare providers and medical interns in Zhejiang Province had inadequate knowledge, positive attitude and proactive practice toward fertility preservation in patients with gynecologic cancers. It is recommended that targeted educational interventions and training programs implemented to enhance the understanding and application of fertility preservation strategies among healthcare professionals.