Obstetrician-gynecologist experiences with abortion training: physician insights from a qualitative study☆
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.
aANSIRH, Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health at the University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
bKenneth 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
cDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94612, USA
ABSTRACT