Mobile Health Support Before Oocyte Pick-Up in Infertile Women

This study is planned as a prospective, two-arm, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the OPUCARE system in infertile women during the period before oocyte pick-up (OPU). The study is based on a quantitative research approach and will use a pretest-posttest control group design.

The study population will consist of infertile women scheduled for OPU at a university hospital infertility clinic in Istanbul, Turkey. The sample size was determined by power analysis. According to the analysis performed using G*Power 3.1.9.7, at least 27 participants are required in each group. Considering possible attrition, 30 participants will be recruited for each group, for a total sample size of 60 participants.

Eligible participants who provide written informed consent will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group or the control group using a computer-generated randomization list prepared in advance. Because of the nature of the intervention, blinding of participants and implementers will not be possible. To reduce bias, data collection time points will be standardized, the same measurement tools will be applied to both groups in the same order, and analyses will be conducted according to a predefined statistical plan.

Participants in the intervention group will receive routine clinical care plus the OPUCARE system. Participants in the control group will receive routine clinical care and standard written and verbal information provided by the clinic, without mobile health application support.

The OPUCARE system consists of two components: a patient-facing mobile support application and a clinic panel that allows healthcare professionals to monitor coded patient data. The patient application includes medication reminders, treatment process information, administration guidance, side effect management content, motivational messages, and an OPU countdown. The clinic panel enables secure monitoring of coded data such as medication adherence percentage, daily log-in frequency, module completion rates, and basic follow-up indicators.

The intervention period will last approximately 2 weeks, from the start of medication treatment until OPU. The primary outcomes of the study are medication adherence and fertility-related quality of life. State anxiety will be evaluated as a secondary psychosocial outcome. In addition, system usage indicators and user satisfaction with OPUCARE will be assessed in the intervention group.

Inclusion criteria

• Female participants aged 18 years and older
• Diagnosed with primary infertility
• Scheduled to undergo oocyte pick-up (OPU) for the first time
• Newly starting medication treatment during the period before OPU
• Own a smartphone and are able to use basic mobile applications
• Willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of secondary infertility
• Presence of a serious chronic disease that may significantly affect medication adherence and/or quality of life
• Presence of an active serious psychiatric disorder
• Cognitive or physical limitation that prevents use of the mobile application