Support from Healthcare Professionals for Couples/Partners Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology in Japan: A Literature Review

Background and Purpose: A growing number of couples/partners have been undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Japan. The purpose of this study was to clarify the support from healthcare professionals based on the support vectors in the Family Care/Caring Theory proposed by Hohashi (2015) through a literature review. Methods: Using Ichushi-Web, we searched for original articles using the keywords “assisted reproductive technology”, “infertility”, “family”, “couple”, “nursing”, “care”, and “support”. Thirteen articles suitable for the purpose of this study were subjected to content analysis. Family support was encoded and grouped into subcategories and categories, and classified according to support vectors. Results: A total of 21 categories of support from healthcare professionals was extracted. Intervention for family internal environment included seven categories, such as “Nursing professionals stay close to females”. Intervention for family system unit included five categories, such as “Nursing professionals adjust couple/partner relationships”. Intervention for micro system only included “Nursing professionals provide opportunities for peer support to the couples/partners” and intervention for macro system only included “Nursing professionals encourage medical doctors to relate to females”. Intervention for family chrono environment included seven categories, such as “Healthcare professionals resolve female’s anxieties”. Conclusion: The support from healthcare professionals could be organized by the support vectors of Family Care/Caring Theory, but intervention for supra system (culture, religion, etc.) was lacking. Moreover, because most support was directed toward females or couples/partners, male-focused direct and/or indirect support are also needed.