Effectiveness, safety and acceptability of no‐test medical abortion (termination of pregnancy) provided via telemedicine: a national cohort study

Aiken, ARA; Lohr, PA; Lord, J; Ghosh, N; Starling, J

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes before and after implementation of medical abortion (termination of pregnancy) without ultrasound via telemedicine. DESIGN: Cohort analysis. SETTING: The three main abortion providers. POPULATION OR SAMPLE: Medical abortions at home at ≤69 days’ gestation in two cohorts: traditional model (in‐person with ultrasound, n = 22 158) from January to March 2020 versus telemedicine‐hybrid model (either in person or via telemedicine without ultrasound, n = 29 984, of whom 18 435 had no‐test telemedicine) between April and June 2020. Sample (n = 52 142) comprises 85% of all medical abortions provided nationally. METHODS: Data from electronic records and incident databases were used to compare outcomes between cohorts, adjusted for baseline differences. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Treatment success, serious adverse events, waiting times, gestation at treatment, acceptability. RESULTS: Mean waiting time from referral to treatment was 4.2 days shorter in the telemedicine‐hybrid model and more abortions were provided at ≤6 weeks’ gestation (40% versus 25%, P < 0.001). Treatment success (98.8% versus 98.2%, P > 0.999), serious adverse events (0.02% versus 0.04%, P = 0.557) and incidence of ectopic pregnancy (0.2% versus 0.2%, P = 0.796) were not different between models. In the telemedicine‐hybrid model, 0.04% were estimated to be over 10 weeks’ gestation at the time of the abortion; all were completed safely at home. Within the telemedicine‐hybrid model, effectiveness was higher with telemedicine than in‐person care (99.2% versus 98.1%, P < 0.001). Acceptability of telemedicine was high (96% satisfied) and 80% reported a future preference for telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS: A telemedicine‐hybrid model for medical abortion that includes no‐test telemedicine and treatment without an ultrasound is effective, safe, acceptable and improves access to care. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Compelling evidence from 52 142 women shows no‐test telemedicine abortion is safe, effective and improves care.