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. 2023 Jun 29;18(6):e0286703.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286703. eCollection 2023.

Predictors of intention to provide abortions after OB/GYN residency training

Katherine J Kramer  1 , Sarah Ottum  2 , Conrad R Chao  3 , Aliye Runyan  4 , Benjamin Rappolee  5 , Sandra Sadek  6 , Noor E Jannat  7 , Maurice-Andre Recanati  8
Affiliations

Predictors of intention to provide abortions after OB/GYN residency training

Katherine J Kramer et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Introduction: Abortion is a common gynecological procedure and plays a central role in women's health and autonomy. To maintain accessibility to abortion, it is important that sufficient obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) residents intend to provide abortion care after residency. This study identifies factors that influence a resident's intention to provide abortions (IPA) post-training.

Materials and methods: A multiple-choice survey, addressing demographics, religious background, residency program metrics, training experience and intent to provide abortions (IPA), was answered by 409 Ob/Gyn residents. Chi-square test was performed on descriptive statistics and continuous variables were tested with ANOVA with p<0.05 considered significant.

Results: Residents with IPA were predominantly female (p = 0.001), training in the Northeast and West (p<0.001), identifying either as non-religious, agnostic/atheist or Jewish (p<0.01), not actively practicing their religion (p<0.001) and leaning democrats (p<0.002). Those with IPA were more likely to train at hospitals without religious affiliation (p<0.008), to train at a Ryan Program (p<0.001), to place strong emphasis on choosing a program with family planning training (p<0.001), to join programs where a significant portion of the faculty performs abortions (p<0.001) and to have completed a higher number of first trimester medical and surgical abortion procedures during the last six months of training (p<0.001).

Conclusion: These results suggest that factors influencing a physician's intention to provide abortions are multifactorial, involving personal and program factors. A model predicting IPA is derived. To maximize IPA, residency programs can increase abortion volume, facilitate additional training and build a supportive faculty.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Stepwise regression.
The model selected factors most correlated with intention to provide.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Prediction model for intention to provide.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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