Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-2114-798X
Date of Graduation
5-2023
Document Type
Thesis (MS)
Program Affiliation
Genetic Counseling
Degree Name
Masters of Science (MS)
Advisor/Committee Chair
Aarti Ramdaney, MS, CGC
Committee Member
Samantha Montgomery, MS, CGC
Committee Member
Syed Hashmi, MD, MPH, PhD
Committee Member
Ghazaleh Moayedi, DO, MPH
Committee Member
Maureen Mork, MS, CGC
Abstract
Trust is a key aspect of any patient-provider relationship as patients must rely on their healthcare providers (HCPs) to provide appropriate care and guidance, maintain confidentiality, and act in their best interests. Studies suggest that recent changes to abortion legislation have resulted in a loss of the patient-physician relationship, with individuals describing feelings of isolation and fear regarding safety and confidentiality, and many seeking information outside of the medical community. An anonymous survey was distributed among members of abortion support groups and advocacy organizations in the United States to assess how recent changes to abortion legislation may impact patient trust in HCPs and identify influencing demographic factors. Univariate analyses (Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test) and ordered logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between trust and demographic variables. Of the 142 responses, 25% reported a decrease in trust in their HCPs. Those residing in states hostile to abortion access were more likely to indicate a reduction in trust (p
Keywords
abortion, reproductive health, legislation, restriction, patient trust, healthcare provider trust, pregnancy termination, family planning