Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40371995›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced nursing2026

The Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Practice Nurses in the Provision of Medication Abortion: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Sharon James, Satish Melwani, Stella May Gwini, Kirsten I Black, Angela Taft, Deborah Bateson, Wendy V Norman, Danielle Mazza

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Sharon JamesSPHERE, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence, Department of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2211-3447
Satish MelwaniSPHERE, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence, Department of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8256-3330
Stella May GwiniMonash Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0295-4575
Kirsten I BlackSpecialty of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0030-2431
Angela TaftJudith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6350-843X
Deborah BatesonFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1035-7110
Wendy V NormanDepartment of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4340-7882
Danielle MazzaSPHERE, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence, Department of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6158-7376

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council 1191793
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo examine practice nurse knowledge, attitudes, and practices about medication abortion in Australia.

designCross-sectional survey.

methodsA national online survey was conducted from July to December 2021. Nurses working in general practice were recruited using convenience sampling. Data collected included demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices in abortion care. Analyses used included descriptive statistics and Poisson regression.

resultsFrom 489 responses, knowledge about medication abortion, its provision, and efficacy was low. Although many respondents felt it was acceptable to assist in medication abortion, few indicated involvement. Those with advanced qualifications had greater perceived knowledge of abortion counselling. Respondent involvement in medication abortion was more likely if they had worked in general practice for a long time, their primary place of work was outside of general practice, or had advanced nursing qualifications.

conclusionsGiven their role in the community, there is an opportunity to better utilise practice nurses for abortion care. Incorporation of abortion into the nursing curriculum and routine practice, including supportive funding mechanisms for care, is needed. IMPLICATIONS: Low knowledge and a lack of practice nurses providing abortion services adversely impact patient access. IMPACT: Practice nurse provision of medication abortion has not yet been optimised. While practice nurses reported acceptability to provide abortion care, this could be enhanced with funding, education, and service normalisation. These results will inform policy makers, educators, patients, general practices, and nurses to support patient access to abortion care. Incorporating abortion care into nursing curriculum and practice will support women's access to these services. REPORTING

methodCHERRIES guideline. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Professional groups, family planning organisations, industry, and government grant partners supported the study's recruitment.

trial registrationACTRN12622000655741.

Indexed as

Abortion, InducedAttitude of Health PersonnelHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeAdultAustraliaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPregnancySurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adultabortiongeneral practicenursingprimary caresurveywomen's health

Identifiers

PMID40371995
PMCPMC12907591

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.