HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by AIYER, A. N. Articles by HO, G. Y. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by AIYER, A. N. Articles by HO, G. Y. F.

Influence of Physician Attitudes on Willingness to Perform Abortion

From the Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.

Address reprint requests to: Gloria Y. F. Ho, PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Belfer Building 1312, Bronx, NY 10461, E-mail: ho{at}aecom.yu.edu

Objective: To survey attitudes about abortion in a sample of physicians practicing in the Bronx, New York, identify factors associated with those attitudes, and investigate how attitudes about abortion influence willingness to do it.

Methods: A questionnaire mailed to obstetricians and gynecologists affiliated with a medical school in the Bronx elicited information on attitudes about abortion and the willingness to do it. Attitude scores were measured on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, with 5 indicating a proponent attitude about abortion. The practice score ranged from 0 to 2, with 2 indicating proponent attitude about practicing abortion.

Results: The median attitude score was 3.8. Physicians were receptive to reasons for abortion that were medically indicated. A proponent attitude was found in non-Catholics and those who were trained in residency programs that required observing abortions. The median practice score was 1.2. The most important personal factors influencing a physician’s decision not to perform abortions included lack of proper training and ethical and religious beliefs. There was a significant positive correlation between the attitude score and practice score (r = .42, P < .001).

Conclusion: Personal beliefs and past experience with abortion are associated with attitudes about abortion that, besides competence doing them, influence physicians’ willingness to do them. Offering training in abortion might benefit physicians who are proponents and willing to perform abortions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Roy, R. Parvataneni, B. Friedman, K. Eastwood, P. D. Darney, and J. Steinauer Abortion Training in Canadian Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Programs Obstet. Gynecol., August 1, 2006; 108(2): 309 - 314. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Steinauer, E. A. Drey, R. Lewis, U. Landy, and L. A. Learman Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident Satisfaction With an Integrated, Comprehensive Abortion Rotation Obstet. Gynecol., June 1, 2005; 105(6): 1335 - 1340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]