Residents were surveyed at baseline to assess openness to abortion education. An abortion curriculum was developed and implemented as a standard component of training. Three to four half-day training sessions were tailored to individual residents, with varying participation levels in providing abortion depending on learners’ personal beliefs. Residents completed written surveys before and after participation in the curriculum.
The pre-implementation survey had a 90% response rate and showed that routine participation in an abortion curriculum was acceptable to 69% of respondents. The curriculum was implemented and evaluated. Thirty-nine residents participated, and 28 completed both pre-and post-rotation surveys. Comparisons between pre-and post-rotation surveys demonstrated statistically significant improvements in abortion-related knowledge and self-reported comfort with abortion-related skills and significantly more favorable attitudes about abortion training.
The study concluded that residents were better prepared to care for women with unwanted pregnancies after routine participation in an abortion curriculum. For controversial topics such as abortion, a learner-centered curriculum ensures adequate education for all residents. Future research should assess how regular abortion education affects patient care and whether it results in an increased number of family physicians who provide abortion.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/34/2/107
