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“All hands on deck”: a qualitative study of safeguarding and the transition to telemedical abortion care in England and Wales

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  • Parsons, Jordan A.
  • Romanis, Elizabeth Chloe

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic raised significant challenges for in-person healthcare provision, leading healthcare providers to embrace digital health like never before. Whilst changes were made as part of a public health response, many have now become permanent fixtures of the healthcare landscape, significantly altering the way care is provided not only for patients, but also for the healthcare professionals that provide care. In abortion care in England and Wales, previously stringent regulations on in-person care provision were relaxed to permit the use of telemedicine and self-administration of medications at home. These changes have since been made permanent. However, there remains opposition to remote abortion care pathways on the basis of safeguarding. Opponents argue that it is not feasible to effectively safeguard patients accessing abortion care remotely. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with abortion care providers in England and Wales. Participants were asked about their views and experiences of the transition to remote care provision, with a particular focus on how they adapted their safeguarding practice. In this article, we present three themes that highlight the changing roles of healthcare professionals in abortion care: (1) a challenging backdrop and resulting apprehension, (2) adaptive practices, and (3) the continued importance of professional curiosity. Across all three themes, participants reflected significantly on how changes were made and what they experienced in the period of transition to telemedicine. In particular, they discussed the changing nature of their professional roles amidst digitalisation. Our findings provide a basis for reflection on the increasing introduction of digital approaches to healthcare provision, highlighting points for caution and emphasising the need to involve professionals in the transition process to ensure vital buy-in. Through this, we articulate two novel understandings of digitalisation: (1) the impact of speed-associated pressures on professional adaptation during digitalisation, and (2) off-proforma safeguarding through telemedicine as a form of invisible non-routine work.

Suggested Citation

  • Parsons, Jordan A. & Romanis, Elizabeth Chloe, 2024. "“All hands on deck”: a qualitative study of safeguarding and the transition to telemedical abortion care in England and Wales," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:348:y:2024:i:c:s027795362400279x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116835
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Grossman, D.A. & Grindlay, K. & Buchacker, T. & Potter, J.E. & Schmertmann, C.P., 2013. "Changes in service delivery patterns after introduction of telemedicine provision of medical abortion in Iowa," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(1), pages 73-78.
    2. Ziebland, Sue & Hyde, Emma & Powell, John, 2021. "Power, paradox and pessimism: On the unintended consequences of digital health technologies in primary care," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    3. Parsons, Jordan A & Romanis, Elizabeth Chloe, 2021. "2020 developments in the provision of early medical abortion by telemedicine in the UK," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(1), pages 17-21.
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