Improving Health Equity by Understanding Preferences in Telehealth Abortion
University of California, San Francisco
Summary
This study will examine the ways in which telehealth for reproductive healthcare affects timing, costs, and follow-up care; whether telehealth reaches people in areas with greater health inequities; and the attributes of telehealth that patients want. Study surveys will be administered to interested, eligible participants: 2,000 patients seeking abortion care will complete the study, comprising of 2 groups: patients seeking medication abortion care either (1) in-person or (2) via telehealth. This project will address how telehealth services can be optimized for people of color, low-income people, and immigrants to increase digital inclusion and health equity.
Description
Given the novelty of telehealth abortion services and new abortion bans, there is a critical need for research on the role of telehealth for abortion to expand equitable abortion access among groups historically marginalized in healthcare. Outside of abortion care, telehealth appears to 1) bridge geographic disparities,2) facilitate language translation,3) provide privacy and safety for immigrants with varying legal statuses, 4) decrease patient costs, and 5) require less time off work or school. At the same time, telehealth services could exacerbate inequities if patients lack technology, int…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 14–64 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Must be currently or about to be obtaining medication abortion care through in-person or telehealth services Exclusion Criteria: * Not currently or about to be obtaining medication abortion care through in-person or telehealth services
Location
- Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH)Oakland, California