Using a video to provide information about early medical abortion
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Delivery of audiovisual information on early medical abortion to women in Europe via digital technology: is it acceptable and informative?
IRAS ID
235487
Contact name
John J Reynolds-Wright
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Lothian
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 23 days
Research summary
The majority of abortions in the UK are performed before 9 weeks (63 days) gestation using a method known as Early Medical Abortion (EMA). EMA involves an assessment visit and provision of two types of medication .
The assessment visit usually involves Ultrasound to confirm gestation, detailed personal history, safeguarding assessment and contraception planning, before arranging treatment and follow up.
The process is long and lots of information is given to women attending the service. In NHS Lothian, the average appointment length for combined assessment and provision of the first part of treatment is 3 hours.
Despite how common abortion is ( 1 in 3), many women presenting for abortion care are not aware of what the procedure will involve. This may in part to the social stigma surrounding abortion and unintended pregnancy in general. This stigma can in turn result in feelings of anxiety and shame about the decision to terminate a pregnancy.
There is evidence that short videos shown to patients prior to abortion or contraception consultations can improve their ability to recall information and can make them feel more confident about the procedure.
Additionally, abortion care providers have found patients who have seen videos to be better prepared and informed and this allows consultations to progress more easily and allow greater time for discussion of contraceptive methods.We have prepared a video approximately 3 minutes in length to provide information about EMA. It summarises the process described above using simple language and animated characters. The video has been translated into French, Portuguese and Swedish and has been adapted to reflect subtle differences in practice and law in these countries. We have partners in services in these three countries who will be conducting the trial there in accordance with this protocol and their own local ethics and clinical governance requirements.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
18/SS/0014
Date of REC Opinion
19 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion