Residents' Papers Gynecology
The effect of training on the provision of elective abortion: A survey of five residency programs

https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2003.309Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the correlation of residency abortion training and other variables with abortion provision. Study Design: We surveyed obstetrician-gynecologists who graduated from five residency programs. Subjects were asked about demographic characteristics, residency abortion training, and abortion provision. We used a logistic regression model that included all variables that were correlated significantly with abortion provision in univariate analyses. Results: Of 161 physicians (61%) who responded, 131 physicians (83%) participated in abortion training. Seventy-six physicians (47%) provided abortions currently, and 95 physicians (58%) had provided abortions at some time since residency. Three variables were independently, positively correlated with abortion provision: the number of abortions that were performed during residency, the gestational age limit of abortion training, and urban practice. Negatively correlated with provision were membership in a restrictive practice and training outside the teaching hospital. Conclusion: Variables that were indicative of more extensive residency abortion training were associated positively with the current provision of abortion. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:1161-3.)

Section snippets

Material and methods

An anonymous pretested survey was mailed to graduates of five obstetrics-gynecology programs from 1989 through 1998. The Human Research Committee at the University of California, San Francisco, approved the study. We asked about demographic characteristics, residency training, and abortion provision. Factors that were associated with abortion provision were analyzed by Fisher exact test and the Student t test. Variables that were associated at a probability of <.1 in univariate analysis were

Results

We obtained current addresses of 262 of the 293 graduates; 161 physicians (61%) returned surveys. Most of the respondents were women who practiced general obstetrics and gynecology and who were in private practice (Table I).

. Demographic characteristics of 161 surveyed obstetrician-gynecologists*

CharacteristicNo. (%)
Female113 (70)
Married or cohabiting138 (86)
Children111 (69)
Religious affiliation103 (64)
Jewish†26 (25)
Protestant†45 (44)
Catholic†25 (24)
Practice details
General

Comment

Almost one half of the surveyed physicians reported having provided abortions in the previous year; most respondents (58%) reported having performed abortions since residency. If we were to assume that all nonresponders had performed zero abortions, the percentage of those physicians who had provided first-trimester abortions in the last year would decrease from 46% to 28%, second-trimester abortions from 26% to 16%, and since residency from 58% to 36%. Even with this adjustment, these numbers

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Reprint requests: Jody Steinauer, MD, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Ave, Ward 6D, San Francisco, CA 94110. E-mail: [email protected]

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