Reducing distress during abortion: a test of sensory information

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of providing sensory information on distress during first-trimester abortion using a 2 x 2 factorial design. The factors were type of information given and type of anaesthesia used. Eighty-four women completed pre-abortion measures of state anxiety, and subjective pain and distress. Post-abortion measures included behavioural distress, subjective distress, pain and state anxiety. No significant differences were found for type of information (sensory vs. general) received on subjective or behavioural distress measures. Women receiving intravenous sedation together with local cervical block reported less subjective distress and pain than women receiving local anaesthesia alone. Sensory information was not effective in reducing distress during abortion.