Contraception
Volume 81, Issue 6 , Pages 525-530, June 2010

Obstetrician-gynecologist experiences with abortion training: physician insights from a qualitative study☆

  • Lori Freedman

      Affiliations

    • ANSIRH, Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 510 986 8948; fax: +1 510 986 8960.
    • ,
  • Uta Landy

      Affiliations

    • Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program and the Fellowship in Family Planning in the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA , USA
    • ,
  • Jody Steinauer

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94612, USA

Received 12 August 2009; received in revised form 11 December 2009; accepted 6 January 2010. published online 11 February 2010.

Abstract 

Background

Abortion is one of the most contested, yet common surgical procedures in the United States and a required component of obstetrics and gynecology resident education. Approaches to abortion training are variable.

Study Design

We conducted in-depth interviews with 30 physicians who had graduated 5–10 years prior from four US residency programs with routine abortion training. Interviews focused on their experiences with abortion during training and in practice.

Results

Graduates' positive and negative experiences demonstrated that many valued teaching about the social issues surrounding abortion as well as training in surgical skills. Respondents found training rewarding when attending physicians openly discussed their personal commitment to abortion practice, respected differences of opinions about abortion and demonstrated high regard for abortion training. Some residents who opted out of surgical training for abortion valued partially participating in the rotation.

Conclusions

Many physicians-in-training consider didactics related to the social context of care and respect for moral boundaries important components of abortion training.

Keywords: Abortion, Professionalism, Residency training, Qualitative, Values clarification, Opt-out

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☆ The research was supported by the Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Program. We have no other funders to disclose.

PII: S0010-7824(10)00004-1

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2010.01.003

Contraception
Volume 81, Issue 6 , Pages 525-530, June 2010

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