OBJECTIVES: We examined the impact on patient safety if nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and physician assistants (PAs) were permitted to provide aspiration abortions in California. METHODS: In a prospective, observational study, we evaluated the outcomes of 11 487 early aspiration abortions completed by physicians (n = 5812) and newly trained NPs, CNMs, and PAs (n = 5675) from 4 Planned Parenthood affiliates and Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, by using a noninferiority design with a predetermined acceptable risk difference of 2%. All complications up to 4 weeks after the abortion were included. RESULTS: Of the 11 487 aspiration abortions analyzed, 1.3% (n = 152) resulted in a complication: 1.8% for NP-, CNM-, and PA-performed aspirations and 0.9% for physician-performed aspirations. The unadjusted risk difference for total complications between NP-CNM-PA and physician groups was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.45, 1.29) and 0.83 (95% CI = 0.33, 1.33) in a propensity score-matched sample. CONCLUSIONS: Abortion complications were clinically equivalent between newly trained NPs, CNMs, and PAs and physicians, supporting the adoption of policies to allow these providers to perform early aspirations to expand access to abortion care.
OBJECTIVES: We examined the impact on patient safety if nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and physician assistants (PAs) were permitted to provide aspiration abortions in California. METHODS: In a prospective, observational study, we evaluated the outcomes of 11 487 early aspiration abortions completed by physicians (n = 5812) and newly trained NPs, CNMs, and PAs (n = 5675) from 4 Planned Parenthood affiliates and Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, by using a noninferiority design with a predetermined acceptable risk difference of 2%. All complications up to 4 weeks after the abortion were included. RESULTS: Of the 11 487 aspiration abortions analyzed, 1.3% (n = 152) resulted in a complication: 1.8% for NP-, CNM-, and PA-performed aspirations and 0.9% for physician-performed aspirations. The unadjusted risk difference for total complications between NP-CNM-PA and physician groups was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.45, 1.29) and 0.83 (95% CI = 0.33, 1.33) in a propensity score-matched sample. CONCLUSIONS: Abortion complications were clinically equivalent between newly trained NPs, CNMs, and PAs and physicians, supporting the adoption of policies to allow these providers to perform early aspirations to expand access to abortion care.
Authors: Robin P Newhouse; Julie Stanik-Hutt; Kathleen M White; Meg Johantgen; Eric B Bass; George Zangaro; Renee F Wilson; Lily Fountain; Donald M Steinwachs; Lou Heindel; Jonathan P Weiner Journal: Nurs Econ Date: 2011 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 1.085
Authors: Tracy A Weitz; Diana Taylor; Ushma D Upadhyay; Sheila Desai; Molly Battistelli Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2014-08-14 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Vinita Goyal; Isabel H McLoughlin Brooks; Robin Wallace; Amna I Dermish; Bhavik Kumar; Ann Schutt-Ainé; Anitra Beasley; Abigail R A Aiken; Joseph E Potter Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2020-02-25 Impact factor: 10.693