Efficacy of Medical Abortion Through Telemedicine Versus Standard Provision - a Randomised Controlled Non-inferiority Trial

The guidance on Safe abortion technology by the World Health Organization (WHO 2012) suggests the evaluation of internet provision and telemedicine, as further alternative service delivery channels of safe abortion, as a subject for future research (WHO 2012) Our studies have shown that telemedicine and provision of medical abortion through wow is safe, acceptable and with outcomes similar to medical abortion provided traditionally following face-to-face counselling. Furthermore, recently home self-assessment of the abortion outcome through a low sensitivity U-hCg test was shown to be highly acceptable to women. To evaluate whether counselling through telemedicine is non-inferior to face-to face counselling a RCT will be conducted including women who chose medical abortion up to 63 days of gestation with home administration of misoprostol and self assessment of the outcome. The results of this study could be of major importance to increase access to safe and acceptable abortion services.