Abstract
Objective
To assess abortion-related attitudes, practices, and perceptions among physicians
of all specialties at a Wisconsin academic medical center.
Study design
We developed and disseminated a cross-sectional web and mail survey to physicians
at our academic center using a list generated by Human Resources. We performed descriptive
analyses and assessed bivariate relationships between measures of support for abortion,
perceived climate of opinion, willingness to consult in abortion-related cases, and
sociodemographic and professional characteristics. We used binary logistic regression
to model willingness to consult.
Results
We sent the survey to 1357 physicians and received 913 (67%) responses. Participants
reported strong support for unrestricted access to abortion and the efforts of abortion
providers but estimated relatively lower support among peers. Compared to 556 (62%)
who reported “a lot” of support for abortion access, only 183 (21%) estimated the
same level of support among peers. Similarly, 615 (69%) participants reported “a lot”
of support for abortion providers, compared to only 227 (25%) who estimated the same
level of support among peers. Participants most commonly estimated that peers “somewhat”
support abortion access (381; 43%) and abortion providers (344; 39%). Across specialties,
799 (90%) physicians said they were at least “somewhat” willing to consult in abortion-related
cases. Compared to obstetrician-gynecologists and family physicians, other specialists
were less likely to be willing to consult (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.29–0.65), though majorities
of both groups were willing. Physicians who perceived equal or higher support for
abortion among peers were more likely to be willing to consult (aOR = 2.17, 95% CI
1.60–2.95).
Conclusion
Most physicians at our center reported support for abortion; however, those who perceived
less support among peers reported less willingness to consult in abortion-related
care, regardless of specialty.
Implications
Even among physicians who supported abortion, the perception that peers were less
supportive deterred participation in abortion-related care at our institution. Where
abortion care is isolated or stigmatized, physicians may be unaware of colleagues’
true attitudes about abortion. Efforts to normalize communication about abortion care
could improve access and quality.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 10, 2021
Accepted:
April 27,
2021
Received in revised form:
April 22,
2021
Received:
September 17,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
