Attitudes of obstetrics and gynecology residents toward abortion participation: a Philadelphia area survey.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the willingness of Philadelphia obstetrics and gynecology residents to participate in three abortion procedures for various fetal conditions.


METHODS
Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to 310 residents from 18 programs. The survey asked the residents whether they would participate in first trimester dilatation and evacuation (D&E), second trimester prostaglandin induction or second trimester D&E for the following conditions: lethal fetal anomaly, nonlethal anomaly with certain long-term functional consequences, possible long-term functional consequences, little or no long-term functional consequences and elective abortion of a normal fetus.


RESULTS
Of the 148 respondents, the percentage of residents who would participate in a second trimester D&E for each fetal condition was significantly lower than that for a first trimester D&E (p < or = .001). Additionally, for each abortion procedure, the participation rates consistently fell for lesser degrees of fetal severity. Participation was significantly associated with preferences regarding abortion legislation and personal abortion stance.


CONCLUSIONS
Resident attitudes regarding abortion participation were related to severity of the fetal condition, gestational age and procedure type.
Fischer
Richard L
RL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, USA. fischer-richard@cooperhealth.edu
Schaeffer
Kathleen
K
Hunter
Robert L
RL
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015143:Philadelphia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D010120:Oxytocics; D011453:Prostaglandins