Doulas as facilitators: the expanded role of doulas into abortion care

Chor, Julie; Goyal, Vinay; Roston, Alicia; Keith, Lewis; Patel, Ashlesha

doi:10.1136/jfprhc-2011-100278

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…1 An extension of these methods is to have a trained person sit with the patient to provide emotional support during the procedure. 9 Finally, a heating pad can be helpful for uterine cramping. 10 …”

Section: Biology Of Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pain Management for Gynecologic Procedures in the Office

Ireland¹,

Allen²

2016

Obstetrical &Amp; Gynecological Survey

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Section: Biology Of Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pain Management for Gynecologic Procedures in the Office

Ireland¹,

Allen²

2016

Obstetrical &Amp; Gynecological Survey

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“…I began the training and certification process that spring and attending births in the New York area in March 2009. Currently, I serve as a leader of The Doula Project, an organization based in NYC that has spearheaded the emerging "full-spectrum" doula field (Chor et al 2012). We provide compassionate, non-judgmental support to people regardless of the outcome of their pregnancy, whether they face birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, fetal anomaly, or abortion.…”

Section: A Doula's Responsementioning

confidence: 98%

Illness Doula: Adding a New Role to Healthcare Practice

2017

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In this article, we explore the possibility of adding a new role to the clinical encounter: an illness doula. Even though research and education in medical humanities and narrative medicine have made improvements in humanizing healthcare, progress is slow and ongoing. There needs to be an intervention in the practice of healthcare now for people currently going through the system. An illness doula, like a birth doula, would facilitate and insure that attention is paid to the personal needs and desires of the patient in the present system. We envision illness doulas having the ability and availability to accompany the patient throughout the healthcare process, to help communicate with clinicians, and to ensure that patient preferences are understood and respected along the way. We discuss how this idea emerged through the clinical encounters of two of our authors, the possibilities and limitations of creating a new role for illness doulas, and the logistics of how to put this new role into play.

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“…Previous studies evaluating the effects of non-pharmacologic auxiliary interventions (such as music) on pain during abortion have demonstrated mixed results (1, 21, 22). While these types of interventions likely address emotional components of pain, they may have limited benefits in addressing physiologic components of pain.…”

Section: Commentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Full spectrum doulas are lay people who provide support to women across a variety of reproductive experiences, including birth, miscarriage, adoption, and abortion (1). Doula support during labor and delivery is associated with improved pain control, shorter labor, decreased rates of cesarean delivery, and breastfeeding (2–10).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Doula support during first-trimester surgical abortion: a randomized controlled trial

Chor

Hill

Martins

et al. 2015

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

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Objectives To evaluate the impact of doula support on first trimester abortion care. Study Design Women were randomized to receive doula support or routine care during first trimester surgical abortion. We examined the effect of doula support on pain during abortion using a 100-mm visual analog scale. The study had statistical power to detect 20% difference in mean pain scores. Secondary measures included satisfaction, procedure duration, and patient recommendations regarding doula support. Results Two hundred and fourteen women completed the study: 106 received doula support, 108 received routine care. The groups did not differ regarding demographics, gestational age, or medical history. Pain scores in the doula and control groups did not differ at speculum insertion (38.6mm [±26.3mm] vs. 43.6mm [±25.9mm], p=0.18) or procedure completion (68.2mm [±28.0mm] vs. 70.6mm [±23.5mm], p=0.52). Procedure duration (3.39min [±2.83min] vs. 3.18min [±2.36min], p=0.55) and patient satisfaction (75.2mm [±28.6mm] vs. 74.6mm [±27.4mm], p=0.89) did not differ between doula and control groups. Among women who received doula support, 96.2% recommended routine doula support for abortion and 60.4% indicated interest in training as doulas. Among women who did not receive doula support, 71.6% of women would have wanted it. Additional clinical staff was needed to provide support for 2.9% of women in the doula group and 14.7% of controls (p<0.01). Conclusions Although doula support did not have a measurable effect on pain or satisfaction, women overwhelmingly recommended it for routine care. Women receiving doula support were less likely to require additional clinic support resources. Doula support, therefore, may address patient psychosocial needs.

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Doulas as facilitators: the expanded role of doulas into abortion care

Cited by 18 publications

References 4 publications

Pain Management for Gynecologic Procedures in the Office

Pain Management for Gynecologic Procedures in the Office

Illness Doula: Adding a New Role to Healthcare Practice

Doula support during first-trimester surgical abortion: a randomized controlled trial

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