@article {Kavanaghjfprhc-2017-101925, author = {Aine Kavanagh and Sally Wielding and Rosemary Cochrane and Judith Sim and Anne Johnstone and Sharon Cameron}, title = {{\textquoteleft}Abortion{\textquoteright} or {\textquoteleft}termination of pregnancy{\textquoteright}? Views from abortion care providers in Scotland, UK}, elocation-id = {jfprhc-2017-101925}, year = {2018}, doi = {10.1136/bmjsrh-2017-101925}, publisher = {British Medical Journal Publishing Group}, abstract = {Background The phrase {\textquoteleft}termination of pregnancy{\textquoteright} has recently been adopted by a number of British medical institutions as a preferred descriptor of induced abortion. How it is used by abortion care providers is unclear, although the ongoing stigmatisation of abortion may play a role.Methods A mixed methods study of the views of abortion care providers in Scotland, UK. Self-administered anonymous questionnaires were distributed to abortion care providers at a national conference (Scottish Abortion Care Providers). The main outcomes measured were the proportion of respondents reporting that they found the terms {\textquoteleft}abortion{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}termination of pregnancy{\textquoteright} to be distressing, and their preferred terminology for use in consultations with women. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 providers from a single clinic in Scotland to contextualise use of the terminology.Results The questionnaire was completed by 90/118 delegates (76\%). More respondents indicated they found the term {\textquoteleft}abortion{\textquoteright} distressing (28\%), compared with those who found {\textquoteleft}termination of pregnancy{\textquoteright} distressing (6\%; P\<0.0001). Interview participants reported that {\textquoteleft}termination of pregnancy{\textquoteright} was the default phrase used in consultations. Some respondents stated that they occasionally purposely used {\textquoteleft}abortion{\textquoteright} in consultations to emphasise the seriousness of the procedure (morally, physically and/or emotionally).Conclusions {\textquoteleft}Termination of pregnancy{\textquoteright} is the most commonly used term to describe induced abortion in patient consultations in Scotland. This and the term {\textquoteleft}abortion{\textquoteright} appear to play different roles, with the former being used euphemistically, and the latter as a more emphatic term. Further research is warranted to investigate how this interacts with patient care, service provision, and abortion stigma.}, issn = {2515-1991}, URL = {https://srh.bmj.com/content/early/2018/03/08/bmjsrh-2017-101925}, eprint = {https://srh.bmj.com/content/early/2018/03/08/bmjsrh-2017-101925.full.pdf}, journal = {BMJ Sexual \& Reproductive Health} }