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Abortion training in family medicine: A survey of New Jersey family medicine residency programs

Justine Wu, MD1, Joan Fleischman, MD, MPA2, Jeffrey Levine, MD, MPH3, Ian Bennett, MD, PhD4, Abigail Calkins Aguirre, MPA4, and Kerry McArthur, BA2. (1) Family Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place MEB Rm 268B, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, 732-235-6969, drwuju1@yahoo.com, (2) Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Early Options Training and Research Center, 427 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10013, (3) Family Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, (4) Family Practice and Community Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 2nd Floor Gates Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Background: Abortion is one of the most common procedures performed on US women. Currently, no family medicine program in New Jersey offers abortion training. The goal of this study is to determine the current level of interest in abortion training among faculty and residents at 11 New Jersey Family Medicine Programs. Methods: We will distribute written surveys to assess attitudes toward and interest in abortion training to residents and faculty. Residents at each program site will be given an educational lecture about abortion during which “pre-lecture” surveys will be collected. We will distribute/collect “post-lecture” surveys on-site to assess for changes in training interest after the lecture. Faculty surveys will be distributed via mail. Program directors will be surveyed by phone. Results: Nine out of 11 programs agreed to participate in the study. To date, 62 residents at six residency programs were surveyed (52.5% of all residents at these programs). More residents report interest in medical abortion training (61.7%) than surgical abortion training (35.6%) (p<0.000). The lecture increased resident interest in medical abortion training more than for surgical abortion training. There was not a significant difference in the perceived safety of medical and surgical abortion (both were considered safe by most residents, p=0.811). Significantly more residents consider medical abortion to be within the scope of family medicine than surgical abortion (p<0.000). Conclusions: Residents are interested in abortion training, with a higher interest in medical abortion than surgical abortion. Note: Final results and conclusions will be completed by the time of presentation.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to

Keywords: Abortion, Training

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

U.S. and International Perspectives on Abortion: Poster Session

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA