Satisfaction With Abortion Training in an Abortion-Restrictive State.

Abstract

Background With increasingly disparate patient access to abortion care and resident access to abortion training opportunities following the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, educators must better understand how legal restrictions affect obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) resident training experiences and residents' desire to provide abortions. Objective To characterize how resident perceptions of abortion restrictions affect satisfaction with training and intent to provide abortion. Methods We recruited OB/GYN residents training in Ohio, a state restrictive to abortion, to complete surveys capturing training experiences between 2019 and 2020. Logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between perception of the legal climate on training and satisfaction with training and intent to provide abortions. To provide additional context to survey responses, we reviewed open-ended responses to the effect of the legal climate on training. Results Of 343 eligible residents, 88 (26%) responded from 13 of 15 programs (87% of programs). Most (73%) felt that the legal climate affected their training, and these respondents were more likely to be unsatisfied with their training (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 16.6; 95% CI 2.83-97.22). We found no association between perception of legal climate on training and intent to provide abortions. In open-ended responses, most residents described a desire for more abortion training and barriers to patient care. Some highlighted the positives of training in a restrictive environment, which allowed for an improved understanding of the skills required for patient advocacy. Conclusions Many residents felt that the legal climate in Ohio affected their abortion training, a perception that was associated with decreased satisfaction with training.