An audit of the management of induced abortion in England and Wales.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of care provided to women undergoing induced abortion.


METHODS
The design was a single round audit questionnaire aimed at the providers of abortion services throughout England and Wales (NHS hospitals, clinics under NHS, agency agreements and private units. The levels of care were assessed against agreed audit criteria.


RESULTS
Responses were received from 240 (74%) of the 324 units providing abortion care in England and Wales. These units undertook 80% of the 176,000 termination procedures. Generally standards of care were appropriate, but there were clear areas for improvement including choice of method, infection screening, and delays in referral. A number of unnecessary investigations were still evident, including cross-matching, while lower doses and alternative drug regimens might reduce costs. Only half of the units audited procedures and complications.


CONCLUSIONS
This audit was carried out prior to the publication of the RCOG evidence-based guideline and a further round of audit to assess the impact of the guideline should now be considered.
Thomas
J
J
National Collaborating Centre for Womens' and Childrens' Health, RCOG, Regent's Park, London, UK.
Paranjothy
S
S
Templeton
A
A
D000023:Abortion Applicants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004739:England; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008423:Maternal Age; D008485:Medical Audit; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales