SRFP024: Communication Needs of Patients Accessing Online Medication Abortion Services

Nikeeta Shah, BA, MPH; Anna Fiastro, MPH, MEM; Emily Godfrey, MD, MPH; Rebecca Gomperts, MD, PhD, MPP

Abstract

Context: Family Medicine physicians are increasingly providing early pregnancy medication abortion due to availability of telehealth. Aid Access currently offers a family physician supported online abortion service where patients communicate asynchronously with providers and service staff via an online consultation questionnaire and subsequent email messaging. Evaluating the volume of back-and-forth messaging and the topics of patient concern can streamline medication abortion provision and increase quality of services. Objective: To analyze the amount of asynchronous messaging needed between Aid Access clinicians and support staff and patients. To determine the primary topics of patient concern when using an asynchronous abortion service. Study Design: Retrospective chart review, using a mixed-methods quantitative, qualitative approach with a Linear Regression analysis. Setting or Dataset: De-identified patient data and messages sent back and forth between Aid Access and patients in New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ), and Washington (WA). Population Studied: Patients who received consultations and medications (mifepristone and misoprostol) from Aid Access in NY, NJ, and WA between April and November 2020 (n=504). The patients’ ages ranged from 14-50 years, and the majority (85.1%) were less than 7 weeks gestation. Intervention: N/A. Outcome Measures: 1) Message volume and topics of patient concern. 2) Correlation between message topics and total number of messages sent between patients and Aid Access. Results: The mean number of total messages, including 6-7 automatic emails to all patients, between Aid Access and patients was 16.41. Patients messaged primarily about three topics: delivery = timing and packaging of shipment, cost = sliding scale needs, physical process = medication use, appropriate amount of bleeding, and complete abortion confirmation. 31.5% (n=159) of patients had delivery questions, 27.2% (n=137) had cost needs, and 8.7% (n=44) had physical process concerns. After controlling for age, gestational age, and number of previous abortions, patients with delivery, cost, and physical process concerns had 15.6 more total back-and-forth messages compared to those without concerns (95% CI: 9.4-21.9, p<0.001). Conclusions: Patients accessing telehealth abortion services are concerned about timing of delivery, options for discounted payment, and bleeding during the process. Concerns increase the amount of time and communication needed per patient.
Leave a Comment
Debra Stulberg
stulberg@uchicago.edu 11/20/2021

Great study! I really appreciate your clear presentation of the findings (both on the poster and in your video). This is such important work - I'm glad your team is studying all the nuances of telemedicine abortion care.

Emily Godfrey
godfreye@uw.edu 11/20/2021

Great job Nikeeta!! Looking forward to your oral presentation at the NAPCRG conference on Tuesday.

Jack Westfall
jwestfall@aafp.org 11/21/2021

Terrific poster and presentation. Thanks for your work. and for sharing it at NAPCRG.

Gillian Bartlett
gillian.bartlett@health.missouri.edu 11/21/2021

Great presentation and such a practical and useful approach to this important area! I look forward to seeing more results from your work particularly how it can improve the information flow between providers and patients.

William R. Phillips
wphllps@uw.edu 11/21/2021

Great poster on an important research question. Love your video. These findings are are helpful but not very surprising? What did you learn that surprised the clinicians or research team? Thanks for sharing your work here at NAPCRG. I hope you continue this scholarly activity as your career progresses. -Bill Phillips

Diane Harper
harperdi@med.umich.edu 11/22/2021

SO IMPORTANT. The bleeding concern - could that be pre-empted by an app that sends women a notice 8 hours after they take the drug and asks them about the amount of bleeding they have? Thank you for sharing your work with NAPCRG!

Andy Pasternak
avpiv711@sbcglobal.net 11/26/2021

Cool study and I like the outcome variable. Well done

Louise Acheson
11/29/2021

Great study! Emphasizes the importance (for more than half of participants) of responses to inquiry messages--especially those about the physical process. It seems likely that people using Aid Access may be more "independent" of (or perhaps even alienated from) clinicians compared to most partaking of abortion care. It would be interesting to compare how many messages about the physical process are handled by providers of in-person medication abortion.

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