Data Drop: New studies find telemedicine for abortion care is safe and more accessible
Another week and yet more research were published, proving that self-managed abortion is so much more than a provisional solution for times of pandemic.
Telemedicine has widespread implications to improve abortion access for individuals, we know that medical abortion, which involves the use of mifepristone and misoprostol is a safe and highly effective procedure for pregnancies up to 10-weeks gestational age.
It’s increasing evidence that supports clinicians’ ability to assess patient eligibility, administer care and ensure follow-up through telemedicine programs.
RESEARCH SNAP SHOT
The key findings are:
- Waiting times between consultation and treatment improved from 10.7 days to 6.5 days.
- The average gestation of the pregnancy at the time of the abortion was significantly reduced.
- Abortion via telemedicine was just as clinically effective as abortion via the non-telemedicine service.
The key findings are:
- 8 out of 10 (83%) women surveyed preferred telemedicine during the pandemic.
- Two thirds (66%) would choose telemedicine again even if COVID-19 were no longer an issue.
- 95.3% were able to speak with their trained health advisor about their needs in private. A further 4.6% were able to speak in private when they sought out a private space (such as arranging childcare or going outside to sit in a car).
- Over 1,200 women took part in the study. None of them was unable to talk privately, and, none of the ‘free text’ comments indicated any evidence of pressure, coercion, or privacy issues.
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