Doula support during first-trimester surgical abortion: a randomized controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Women's Health
• Clinical Care

Background:

• First-trimester abortion is a common procedure.
• Patient experience and support during abortion care are important aspects of reproductive health.
• The role of non-clinical support, such as doulas, in medical procedures is increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of doula support on the experience of first-trimester surgical abortion.
• To assess whether doula support influences pain perception, patient satisfaction, and procedure duration.
• To determine patient recommendations for routine doula support in abortion care.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial comparing doula support versus routine care during first-trimester surgical abortion.
• Pain was measured using a 100 mm visual analog scale.
• Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction, procedure duration, and patient recommendations.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in pain scores or patient satisfaction were observed between the doula support and routine care groups.
• Women receiving doula support were less likely to require additional clinical staff support (2.9% vs. 14.7%).
• Over 96% of women who received doula support recommended it for routine care, and 71.6% of those who did not receive it wished they had.

Conclusions:

• Doula support may not measurably impact pain or satisfaction during first-trimester abortion.
• Doula support is overwhelmingly recommended by patients for routine abortion care.
• Doula support may improve efficiency in clinic resource allocation by reducing the need for additional staff, potentially by addressing psychosocial needs.