Laura E.T. Swan , Abigail S. Cutler , Madison Lands , Nicholas B. Schmuhl , Jenny A. Higgins
{"title":"Physician beliefs about abortion safety and their participation in abortion care","authors":"Laura E.T. Swan , Abigail S. Cutler , Madison Lands , Nicholas B. Schmuhl , Jenny A. Higgins","doi":"10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100916","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>To document physicians’ beliefs about abortion safety and the associations between these beliefs and physician support for, referral for, and participation in abortion care.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>In a 2019 survey at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, we assessed physicians’ abortion attitudes, beliefs, and practices (<em>N</em> = 893). We conducted bivariate analyses followed by logistic regression to document relationships between physician beliefs about abortion safety and their support for, referral to, and participation in abortion care.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Four-in-five physicians (78%, <em>n</em> = 690) believed that abortion is very or extremely safe. Medical specialty (Obstetrics-Gynecology vs. other; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 10.58, 95% CI: 1.41–79.56), educational exposure to abortion (aOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.02–2.01), and religiosity (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41–0.85) were associated with physicians’ beliefs about the safety of abortion. Providers who believed that abortion was very/extremely safe were more likely to support medication (aOR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.93–4.65) and procedural abortion (aOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.31–5.50) and refer patients for abortion care (aOR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.90–5.01).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Although abortions are associated with extremely few adverse events, a sizable portion of surveyed physicians had incorrect perceptions of the safety of abortion. These beliefs were associated with decreased support and referrals for abortion care. Educational exposure to abortion is associated with more accurate assessments of abortion safety, underscoring the importance of training in this area. Considering the current abortion policy landscape, it is imperative for physicians to hold accurate knowledge about abortion so they can provide comprehensive counseling and, when indicated, referrals for safe and legal care.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":1,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of Chemical Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":16.4000,"publicationDate":"2023-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Accounts of Chemical Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877575623001064","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
To document physicians’ beliefs about abortion safety and the associations between these beliefs and physician support for, referral for, and participation in abortion care.
Methods
In a 2019 survey at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, we assessed physicians’ abortion attitudes, beliefs, and practices (N = 893). We conducted bivariate analyses followed by logistic regression to document relationships between physician beliefs about abortion safety and their support for, referral to, and participation in abortion care.
Results
Four-in-five physicians (78%, n = 690) believed that abortion is very or extremely safe. Medical specialty (Obstetrics-Gynecology vs. other; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 10.58, 95% CI: 1.41–79.56), educational exposure to abortion (aOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.02–2.01), and religiosity (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41–0.85) were associated with physicians’ beliefs about the safety of abortion. Providers who believed that abortion was very/extremely safe were more likely to support medication (aOR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.93–4.65) and procedural abortion (aOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.31–5.50) and refer patients for abortion care (aOR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.90–5.01).
Conclusion
Although abortions are associated with extremely few adverse events, a sizable portion of surveyed physicians had incorrect perceptions of the safety of abortion. These beliefs were associated with decreased support and referrals for abortion care. Educational exposure to abortion is associated with more accurate assessments of abortion safety, underscoring the importance of training in this area. Considering the current abortion policy landscape, it is imperative for physicians to hold accurate knowledge about abortion so they can provide comprehensive counseling and, when indicated, referrals for safe and legal care.
期刊介绍：
Accounts of Chemical Research presents short, concise and critical articles offering easy-to-read overviews of basic research and applications in all areas of chemistry and biochemistry. These short reviews focus on research from the author’s own laboratory and are designed to teach the reader about a research project. In addition, Accounts of Chemical Research publishes commentaries that give an informed opinion on a current research problem. Special Issues online are devoted to a single topic of unusual activity and significance.
Accounts of Chemical Research replaces the traditional article abstract with an article "Conspectus." These entries synopsize the research affording the reader a closer look at the content and significance of an article. Through this provision of a more detailed description of the article contents, the Conspectus enhances the article's discoverability by search engines and the exposure for the research.
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