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Table 1 Summary of study characteristics: Medical compared with Surgical TOP

From: Experiences of abortion: A narrative review of qualitative studies

Author & Date

Title of article

Country

Sample characteristics

Details

Simonds et al 1998 [15]

Abortion, Revised: Participants in the U.S. Clinical Trials Evaluate Mifepristone

U.S.

n = 27 women

n = 78 health care workers

Age: Over 18

Recruitment from a clinical trial site

Individual interviews

Focus groups with health care workers at 17 sites.

Interview duration: average of 15–20 mins, up to 45 mins

Timing: about 2 weeks after TOP

Elul et al 2000 [16]

In-depth Interviews With Medical Abortion Clients: Thoughts on the Method and Home Administration of Misoprostol

U.S.

n = 22

Recruitment from a clinical trial site

In-depth interviews

Duration: 30 mins

Timing: immediately after their follow-up visit of which 9 interviewed one week after TOP.

Fielding et al 2002 [17]

Having an Abortion Using Mifepristone and Home Misoprostol: A Qualitative Analysis of Women's Experiences

U.S.

n = 43

n = 30

Mean age: 26

Around 3/4 white and single, most worked full-time.

Recruitment from a clinical trial site

Pre and post abortion open-ended questionnaires

In-depth interviews

Interview duration: 30 mins

Timing: 1–6 weeks following medical abortion.

Lafaurie et al 2005 [18]

Women's Perspectives on Medical Abortion in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru: A Qualitative Study

Latin America

n = 49

Age: most in their mid-20s.

Women from urban and rural settings and range of socio-economic backgrounds

Recruitment through clinicians who provide both MTOP and STOP

In-depth interviews in Spanish

Duration:1–2 hrs