Perceptions of Patient-Centered Care and Their Association With Patient Satisfaction in Abortions for Medical Reasons

Objective: Abortions for medical reasons, which happen in the event of fetal abnormalities or maternal life endangerment, are highly politicized and understudied given their prevalence. Our objective was to understand the health care experiences of U.S. individuals who had an abortion of a wanted pregnancy for medical reasons in the second or third trimester. Methods: Participants were recruited on Facebook and completed surveys with their demographic information, their perception of their health provider's cultural sensitivity, their patient satisfaction, and their satisfaction with their decision to proceed with an abortion for medical reasons. Results: Participants were 132 women who were mostly between the ages of 31 and 40 (72.7%), highly educated (84.1% had at least a 4-year college degree), and non-Hispanic White (85.6%). There was no statistically significant difference in patients' rated highest average item score on their providers' Competence or Sensitivity; however, average item scores of providers’ Competence and Sensitivity were both higher than Respect scores. Linear regression results show that experiencing patient-centered care significantly predicted patient satisfaction (β = .73, t(131) = 12.03, p < .001) and decision satisfaction (β = .37, t(131) = 4.63, p < .001). Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of training providers to deliver patient-centered care that empowers patients to adapt to challenging situations, such as the diagnosis of medical concerns during pregnancy. Providers understanding and supporting the complex process of an abortion for medical reasons can ameliorate the emotional impact of this procedure.