Implications of digital fertility tracking for clinical care: a qualitative systematic review
Sheridan Clay K., Ford T., Mackay R., Keating S., Ziebland S., Powell J.
Research on the use of digital health interventions for the management of infertility is still emerging and remains understudied. This review syntheses cross-domain qualitative research on the use of digital fertility trackers. We identified 29 papers and thematic analysis found that these tools are most frequently used alongside, but also sometimes in place of clinical care. The research shows that they pose significant disruption to patient-provider relationships and the broader fertility industry and may place patients at risk when developed without a strong research or medical base, or if used incorrectly. More work is needed on the impact of these tools on care pathways, and to provide guidance on differentiating evidence-based platforms from low quality trackers to safeguard patients and improve fertility treatment outcomes.