Medical abortion: outcomes in a family medicine setting.
OBJECTIVE
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Prine
Linda
L
Institute for Family Health, New York, NY, USA.
Shannon
Caitlin
C
Gillespie
Ginger
G
Crowden
William A
WA
Fortin
Jennifer
J
Howe
Michelle
M
Dzuba
Ilana
I
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009518:New York; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D034121:Reproductive Health Services; D014619:Vacuum Curettage
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone