Abstract: Objective: To develop a decision support tool for fertility preservation in female of reproductive age with cancer and evaluate its application effects, aiming to provide clinical guidance for fertility preservation in those patients. Methods: This study utilized literature analysis, qualitative interviews, and expert consultations to develop the decision support tool. Fifty female cancer patients of reproductive age admitted to the oncology department of a tertiary grade A hospital in Hunan province from November 2023 to January 2024 were selected by convenient sampling method, and they were randomly divided into the control group and the intervention group using a random number table, with 25 cases in each group. The control group received routine fertility protection decision-making process, while the intervention group utilized the fertility preservation decision support tool. Scores of fertility preservation knowledge questionnaire, decision self-efficacy scale, and decision conflict scale were compared between the two groups. After the intervention, subjects' acceptance and evaluation of the tool were collected. Results: Compared to the control group, patients in the intervention group scored higher on the fertility preservation knowledge questionnaire and the decision self-efficacy scale, and lower on the decision conflict scale, all with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The user acceptance score for the intervention group was 16.84±1.49, indicating a high level of acceptance for the fertility preservation decision support tool among female cancer patients of reproductive age. Conclusion: Patients show a high level of acceptance for the fertility preservation decision support tool for female cancer patients of reproductive age. This tool can effectively enhance patients' knowledge of fertility preservation and their decision self-efficacy, while reducing decision conflict.

Key words: decision support tool; female of childbearing age; cancer; fertility preservation