Provider perspectives and experiences with initial implementation of medication abortion in a California public university health center: A qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: To uncover perceptions and experiences of campus health staff regarding provision of medication abortion (MA) at one public California University. Participants: Included 10 campus health center staff, including nurses, advanced practice clinicians, and physicians. Methods: Staff were recruited via email or snowball sampling to participate in individual interviews to investigate their personal and professional beliefs and experiences of MA being offered at the university. Thematic analysis was employed to make meaning of the qualitative data. Results: Six major themes were identified: Training Logistics and Readiness; Potential Safety Concerns; Factors Impacting Student Accessibility to MA; Provider Values, Beliefs and Perceptions; Provider Role at Campus Health Center; and Student-Provider Relations. Overall, providers felt moderately prepared to provide MA and were supportive of MA being offered on campus. Conclusions: The context of primary care on college campuses provides unique challenges and opportunities for MA provision. Comprehensive reproductive justice-based training, in conjunction with clinical and pregnancy options counseling training, held on an ongoing basis is important to address providers' safety concerns and gaps in confidence or knowledge to support well-being for both providers and students.

Keywords: Abortion; interview; reproductive health; thematic analysis.