title: '…a one stop shop in their own community': Medical abortion and the role of general practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The introduction to Australia of modern medical abortion methods, which require less specialist expertise and equipment than the more traditional surgical methods, have brought an as yet unrealised potential to improve access to abortion services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the potential for expanding the role of general practice in the provision of medical abortion in Victoria.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2015, in-depth interviews were conducted with 19 experts in abortion service provision in Victoria. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to guide the interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and transcripts analysed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were largely very supportive of the provision of early medical abortion in general practice as a way of increasing abortion access for women, particularly in rural and regional communities. Access to abortion was seen as an essential component of women's comprehensive health care and therefore general practitioners (GPs) were perceived as ideally placed to provide this service. However, this would require development and implementation of new service models, careful consideration of GP and nurse roles, strengthening of partnerships with other health professionals and services in the community, and enhanced training, support and mentoring for clinicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of these findings by relevant health services and agencies has the potential to increase provision of medical abortion services in general practice settings, better meeting the health-care needs of women seeking this service.
authors.affiliation: Gender and Women's Health, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bayly
authors.affiliation: Family Planning Victoria & Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McNamee
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bismark
authors.affiliation: Pregnancy Advisory Service, The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Annarella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hardiman
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Gender and Women's Health, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keogh
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000193:education; D001315:Australia; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008611:Mentors; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010819:Physician's Role; D019035:Rural Health Services; D014932:Women's Health Services; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: abortion; general practice; obstetrics and gynaecology; primary care; women's health