Telemedicine medical abortion service in Georgia: an evaluation of a strategy with reduced number of in-Clinic visits: The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care: Vol 0, No 0
Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a medical abortion service that offers: a telemedicine visit (in lieu of an in-person visit) during a mandatory waiting period, and follow-up -up at home using multi-level pregnancy tests (MLPT).
Method
Participants were screened for eligibility at the clinic, and during the waiting period, received a phone call to confirm desire to continue with the service. Participants were mailed a study package containing mifepristone, misoprostol, two multi-level pregnancy tests, and instructions for their use. The follow-up consultation took place by telephone to check the completeness of the abortion. The analysis is descriptive.
Results
One hundred twenty-two participants were enrolled in the study, and 120 chose to continue with the abortion after the waiting period and were sent the study package. One participant was lost to follow up. The majority of participants did not experience problems receiving the study package (94.1%, n= 112), take mifepristone (100%, n= 119), misoprostol (99.2%, n= 118), and MLPTs (99.1%, n= 116) as instructed, and made additional clinic visits (91.6%, n= 109). All participants were satisfied with the service. Most participants had a complete abortion without a procedure (95.8%, n= 114).
Conclusions
A tailored telemedicine medical abortion service is feasible and satisfactory to participants and has the potential to make medical abortion more patient-centered where waiting periods are mandated.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no potential competing interests.
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