Dilation and Evacuation Simulation Model for Learners and Providers Who Offer Abortion Care
Introduction In the US, one in four women will have an abortion, and most OB/GYN physicians have had patients who required abortion care. Most second-trimester abortions in the US (95%) are performed via dilation and evacuation (D&E), which requires provider skill and competency. Barriers to obt...
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Association of American Medical Colleges
2025-05-01
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| Series: | MedEdPORTAL |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11525 |
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| author | Haven Frazier Leanne Free Shana Miles Matthew Vanbaaren Adam Levy |
| author_facet | Haven Frazier Leanne Free Shana Miles Matthew Vanbaaren Adam Levy |
| author_sort | Haven Frazier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction In the US, one in four women will have an abortion, and most OB/GYN physicians have had patients who required abortion care. Most second-trimester abortions in the US (95%) are performed via dilation and evacuation (D&E), which requires provider skill and competency. Barriers to obtaining abortion training include opt-in residency programs, location-based legal restrictions, and religiously affiliated institutions. Our D&E simulation is a cost-effective, realistic model. Methods D&E models were assembled using juice containers, Cornish hens, and Sopher forceps. Thirty-five participants (medical students and OB/GYN residents) completed presimulation surveys and received a brief lecture about abortion demographics, techniques, and complications, followed by the hands-on simulation; 27 completed postsimulation surveys. Participants assessed their comfort levels in performing D&Es and recognizing postabortion complications, and their likelihood of performing D&Es in future clinical practice. Results Comfort levels significantly improved pre- to postsimulation, increasing from 32% to 55% (p < .001) for participants reporting feeling somewhat comfortable or extremely comfortable performing D&Es, and increasing from 46% to 63% (p < .01) for participants reporting feeling somewhat comfortable or extremely comfortable recognizing postabortion complications after receiving the introductory lecture. Overall, participants indicated that the simulation was realistic (92%) and increased their knowledge (100%) and ability to perform D&Es (96%). Discussion Our affordable and simple D&E model can be easily replicated and implemented for training in second-trimester D&E. This model can serve as a valuable and realistic tool for providers with restricted access to clinical abortion who need adjunct training, improving physician education and competency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b9d81042232243f5ade81ddf4be996f1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2374-8265 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MedEdPORTAL |
| spelling | doaj-art-b9d81042232243f5ade81ddf4be996f12025-08-20T02:56:09ZengAssociation of American Medical CollegesMedEdPORTAL2374-82652025-05-012110.15766/mep_2374-8265.11525Dilation and Evacuation Simulation Model for Learners and Providers Who Offer Abortion CareHaven Frazier0Leanne Free1Shana Miles2Matthew Vanbaaren3Adam Levy4Fourth-Year Resident, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV and Nellis Air Force BaseAssistant Professor, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLVAssociate Professor, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine and Nellis Air Force BaseFirst-Year Resident, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLVAssociate Professor, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLVIntroduction In the US, one in four women will have an abortion, and most OB/GYN physicians have had patients who required abortion care. Most second-trimester abortions in the US (95%) are performed via dilation and evacuation (D&E), which requires provider skill and competency. Barriers to obtaining abortion training include opt-in residency programs, location-based legal restrictions, and religiously affiliated institutions. Our D&E simulation is a cost-effective, realistic model. Methods D&E models were assembled using juice containers, Cornish hens, and Sopher forceps. Thirty-five participants (medical students and OB/GYN residents) completed presimulation surveys and received a brief lecture about abortion demographics, techniques, and complications, followed by the hands-on simulation; 27 completed postsimulation surveys. Participants assessed their comfort levels in performing D&Es and recognizing postabortion complications, and their likelihood of performing D&Es in future clinical practice. Results Comfort levels significantly improved pre- to postsimulation, increasing from 32% to 55% (p < .001) for participants reporting feeling somewhat comfortable or extremely comfortable performing D&Es, and increasing from 46% to 63% (p < .01) for participants reporting feeling somewhat comfortable or extremely comfortable recognizing postabortion complications after receiving the introductory lecture. Overall, participants indicated that the simulation was realistic (92%) and increased their knowledge (100%) and ability to perform D&Es (96%). Discussion Our affordable and simple D&E model can be easily replicated and implemented for training in second-trimester D&E. This model can serve as a valuable and realistic tool for providers with restricted access to clinical abortion who need adjunct training, improving physician education and competency.http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11525AbortionDilation and EvacuationOB/GYNSimulationWomen's HealthClinical/Procedural Skills Training |
| spellingShingle | Haven Frazier Leanne Free Shana Miles Matthew Vanbaaren Adam Levy Dilation and Evacuation Simulation Model for Learners and Providers Who Offer Abortion Care MedEdPORTAL Abortion Dilation and Evacuation OB/GYN Simulation Women's Health Clinical/Procedural Skills Training |
| title | Dilation and Evacuation Simulation Model for Learners and Providers Who Offer Abortion Care |
| title_full | Dilation and Evacuation Simulation Model for Learners and Providers Who Offer Abortion Care |
| title_fullStr | Dilation and Evacuation Simulation Model for Learners and Providers Who Offer Abortion Care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dilation and Evacuation Simulation Model for Learners and Providers Who Offer Abortion Care |
| title_short | Dilation and Evacuation Simulation Model for Learners and Providers Who Offer Abortion Care |
| title_sort | dilation and evacuation simulation model for learners and providers who offer abortion care |
| topic | Abortion Dilation and Evacuation OB/GYN Simulation Women's Health Clinical/Procedural Skills Training |
| url | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11525 |
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