R U OK? The Acceptability and Feasibility of New Communication Technologies for Follow-up After Medical Abortion

R U OK? The Acceptability and Feasibility of New Communication Technologies for Follow-up After Medical Abortion

Purpose: This randomised trial will compare outcomes and acceptability of an alternative medical abortion follow-up protocol using standardised text messaging, on-line questionnaire, or a phone interview and a low sensitivity pregnancy test with the current standard of care which consists of either a clinic visit and ultrasound scan or a telephone call and high sensitivity pregnancy test.

Hypothesis: The use of "alternative" methods to assess outcomes after early medical abortion will achieve a higher rate of follow-up than women undergoing "standard" follow-up

Primary aim: To determine the follow-up rate after early medical abortion with an alternative protocol as compared to a standard follow-up protocol

Secondary aims:

• To assess complication rates and receipt of further treatment among women in the two study arms
• To ascertain women's preferences for mode of communication regarding their post-medical abortion status
• To determine provider opinions and preferences for different follow-up modalities

Inclusion Criteria:

• 16 years of age or older,
• eligible for an abortion under the terms of the Abortion Act (1967),
• requesting an early medical abortion,
• willing and able to comply with the study protocol and visit schedule,
• access to either a mobile phone, intranet or telephone and willing to have communication by one of these means to assess post-medical abortion status,
• willing to have call back messages left,
• willing and able to provide valid informed consent, and
• able to communicate in English.

Exclusion Criteria:

• prior participation in this research study, or
• current participation in another research study that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the conduct of this study.