Study protocol: Choice within abortion care pathways - perspectives of service providers, managers and commissioners

Footman, Katy (2021) Study protocol: Choice within abortion care pathways - perspectives of service providers, managers and commissioners. . London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

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Abstract

In England and Wales, medical abortions accounted for 74% of abortions in 2019, and this figure has doubled over the last decade. Both medical and surgical abortion are highly safe and effective, have few contraindications and can be provided in an outpatient setting. The 2019 NICE guidelines for abortion state that women should be offered an informed choice of both methods, but choice of methods has been identified as an area of care that requires improvement in previous studies. The aim of this study is to explore how the financing, management and organisation of abortion services can expand or limit abortion method choice, and how providers’ perceptions of abortion and abortion methods influence their provision of services and information. Key informant interviews will be conducted with 15-20 providers of abortion care (including nurses, midwives, obstetricians and gynaecologists), 5- 10 managers of abortion services and 5-10 commissioners of abortion services. Participants will be purposively recruited through email and snowballing sampling with support from two professional associations. Interviews will be conducted by phone or web-call by myself, depending on the preference of the participant. Interviews will be semi-structured, using a topic guide. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed. Data will be analysed using thematic analysis and findings will be disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed journal articles, and a PhD thesis. Research results are intended to inform policies and practice surrounding the provision of choice within abortion care pathways in the UK, and in other countries where medical methods of abortion are increasingly replacing surgical methods.

Item Type:	Monograph (Report)
Official URL:	https://www.lse.ac.uk/social-policy/people/researc...
Additional Information:	© 2021 The Author
Divisions:	Social Policy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Date Deposited:	09 May 2022 11:18
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2023 22:35
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/115061

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