APGO

Objectives: While obstetrics and gynecology residents may opt out of doing abortions for moral or religious reasons, they report many benefits of partial participation during their family planning rotations. Using qualitative methods, we sought to learn how faculty guide residents in decisions regarding participation in abortion training.

Methods: Semi-structured, in-person and phone interviews were conducted with faculty at residency programs affiliated with the Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program. Interviews explored faculty involvement in residents’ decision to participate and institutional protocols for opting out. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analyzed for thematic content using grounded theory.

Results: Twenty interviews have been completed. Interviewees represent diverse geographic regions and training models. Faculty valued working with partially participating residents, and cited flexibility and respect as critical in creating a valuable training experience. While 45% (9/20) of programs required advanced notification of participation intention, all faculty reported that residents have the opportunity to increase or decrease participation during the rotation. They saw their role as mentors for the residents in finding their personal comfort level, without intention to influence the extent of their participation. Orientation before the rotation, frequent check-ins, and values clarification were cited as aspects of creating a beneficial family planning rotation experience for residents.

Conclusions: Faculty described approaches and benefits of allowing partial participation in abortion training. We intend to use these data to create guidelines for structuring an abortion rotation that welcomes partial participation, creates a valuable training experience and can be adapted for use at individual programs.