Medical abortion: outcomes in a family medicine setting.
Prine, Linda;
Shannon, Caitlin;
Gillespie, Ginger;
Crowden, William A;
Fortin, Jennifer;
Howe, Michelle;
Dzuba, Ilana;
(2010)
Medical abortion: outcomes in a family medicine setting.
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 23 (4).
pp. 509-513.
ISSN 1557-2625
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2010.04.090229
Permanent Identifier
Use this Digital Object Identifier when citing or linking to this resource.
PURPOSE: To compare outcomes of early medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol in a family medicine setting and specialized reproductive health clinics. METHODS: This study used data collected from a prospective, open-label, randomized trial of oral versus buccal misoprostol efficacy. A secondary analysis was performed, evaluating efficacy, acceptability, and interventions after medication at the family medicine site compared with the 6 specialized reproductive health sites. RESULTS: Comparing data from patients in the family medicine setting (n = 116) to specialized reproductive health sites (n = 731) revealed no difference in overall efficacy (95.7% vs 93.4%; P = .351). The family medicine site used a second dose of misoprostol more frequently than the other sites (6.9% vs 2.5%; P = .018). In addition, uterine aspiration after medical abortion at the family medicine site was not used for "medically necessary" reasons whereas reproductive health clinics used it 2.6% of the time (marginally significant; P = .094). Patient satisfaction at family medicine sites was comparable to the other sites (91.2% vs 92.0%; P = .792). CONCLUSION: Medical abortion has similar efficacy and patient satisfaction when offered in a family medicine practice or at a reproductive health specialty clinic. These findings should reassure family physicians that medical abortion can be offered safely in their practices.