Research ArticleOriginal Research
Perspectives Among Canadian Physicians on Factors Influencing Implementation of Mifepristone Medical Abortion: A National Qualitative Study
Sarah Munro, Edith Guilbert, Marie-Soleil Wagner, Elizabeth S. Wilcox, Courtney Devane, Sheila Dunn, Melissa Brooks, Judith A. Soon, Megan Mills, Genevieve Leduc-Robert, Kate Wahl, Erik Zannier and Wendy V. Norman
The Annals of Family Medicine September 2020, 18 (5) 413-421; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2562
Sarah Munro
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
PhDEdith Guilbert
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MD, MScMarie-Soleil Wagner
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MD, MSElizabeth S. Wilcox
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MACourtney Devane
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MSNSheila Dunn
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MD, MScMelissa Brooks
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MDJudith A. Soon
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
RPhMegan Mills
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MDGenevieve Leduc-Robert
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MScKate Wahl
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
Erik Zannier
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MDWendy V. Norman
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M., K.W.); Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.M, E.S.W.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada (E.G.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (M.W.); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (E.S.W.); School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (C.D.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Women’s College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.D.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (M.B.); Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (J.A.S.); Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (M.M., G.L., E.Z); Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (W.V.N.); Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom (W.V.N.).
MD, MHSc
Article Figures & Data
Tables
- Table 1
Changes to Health Canada Regulations for Mifepristone-Misoprostol Medical Abortion, as of January 2020
Topic Change Date Changed Observed ingestion Removed requirement for observation of mifepristone ingestion. The patient can take the drug where and when they choose. October 2016 Training Removed requirement for training for pharmacists. May 2017 Training Removed requirement for training for prescribers. November 2017 Consent form Removed requirement for a manufacturer consent form to be signed by the patient. November 2017 Registration Removed requirement for registration of prescribers or pharmacists with the manufacturer. November 2017 Dispensing Mifepristone can be dispensed directly to patients by a pharmacist or prescribing health professional, rather than the original requirement that a physician must dispense directly to the patient. November 2017 Gestational age Mifepristone-misoprostol may be used up to 9 weeks (63 days) from the last menstrual period, rather than the original 7 weeks (49 days). November 2017 Ultrasound Removed requirement for mandatory ultrasound before prescribing. April 2019 Characteristic No. Profession Family physician/general practice 45 Gynecologist 8 Other primary health care professionala 2 Stakeholder College or regulatory body 13 Advocate or advocacy group 9 Government 7 Abortion facility 6 Total of profession and stakeholder Regionb 90 National 9 British Columbia 19 Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) 14 Ontario 14 Quebec 20 Atlantic (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland) 9 Territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut) 5 Total 90 Sex (self-reported) Female 68 Male 20 Other/did not respond 2 Total 90 Health care professional age, y 20-29 5 30-39 25 40-49 11 50-59 10 60-69 4 Total 55 Health care professional practice location Urban 33 Rural 22 Total 55 Health care professional abortion experience at time of study enrollment Surgical only 9 Medical only 5 Surgical and medical 24 None 17 Total 55
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In this issue
The Annals of Family Medicine: 18 (5)
Vol. 18, Issue 5
September/October 2020
Perspectives Among Canadian Physicians on Factors Influencing Implementation of Mifepristone Medical Abortion: A National Qualitative Study
Sarah Munro, Edith Guilbert, Marie-Soleil Wagner, Elizabeth S. Wilcox, Courtney Devane, Sheila Dunn, Melissa Brooks, Judith A. Soon, Megan Mills, Genevieve Leduc-Robert, Kate Wahl, Erik Zannier, Wendy V. Norman
The Annals of Family Medicine Sep 2020, 18 (5) 413-421; DOI: 10.1370/afm.2562
Perspectives Among Canadian Physicians on Factors Influencing Implementation of Mifepristone Medical Abortion: A National Qualitative Study
Sarah Munro, Edith Guilbert, Marie-Soleil Wagner, Elizabeth S. Wilcox, Courtney Devane, Sheila Dunn, Melissa Brooks, Judith A. Soon, Megan Mills, Genevieve Leduc-Robert, Kate Wahl, Erik Zannier, Wendy V. Norman
The Annals of Family Medicine Sep 2020, 18 (5) 413-421; DOI: 10.1370/afm.2562