Evaluation of an online health professional resource supporting the provision of medication abortion care in Canada
Minh Cam Duong, Efrat Czerniak, Aashay Mehta, Rachel Chiu, Wendy V Norman, Abdul-Fatawu AbdulaiBackground
Medication abortion can expand access by shifting services to primary care; however, few resources exist to strengthen knowledge and confidence among abortion providers and supporting teams. In this study, we evaluated the acceptability and usefulness of a co-created online resource designed to support primary care providers and community workers in providing medication abortion.
Methods
We conducted virtual qualitative interviews with 26 healthcare professionals and community workers using the ‘think-aloud’ method. Participants were recruited from abortion clinics and community organisations in Canada. Data were analysed inductively using thematic analysis.
Results
Participants generally found the resource to becomprehensive, thorough and effective for navigating diverse abortion practices. Key strengths included clarity of writing, intuitive layout and engaging visual elements. However, findings revealed that certain design choices—specifically a blue-grey colour palette and an overemphasis on side effects—could unintentionally reinforce abortion-related stigma. Furthermore, specific terminology and graphics were identified as lacking inclusivity for patients from diverse or underserved backgrounds.
Conclusions
While comprehensive online resources are vital for integrating abortion into primary care, design and language must be carefully selected to avoid perpetuating stigma. Future clinical tools should prioritise inclusive word choices, brighter colour schemes and diverse iconography. Engaging community workers and patients in the design process is essential to ensure resources are non-stigmatising and inclusive.