ArticlePloS one2026
Seeking HELP beyond the pill: Women's perceptions of informed consent for medication abortion: Mixed methods research.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Examining women's experiences with medication abortion: a critical inquiry of women's online narratives post-Dobbs.Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Informed consent is a cornerstone of patient autonomy, yet its implementation in medication abortion, especially in the context of rapidly expanding telehealth and online access, remains understudied. This study explores how informed consent is experienced by women who undergo medication abortion, focusing on the information they receive and the gaps they perceive. Using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, we first conducted a thematic analysis of online narratives to examine how women described their experiences with information, support, and uncertainty. We then developed and administered a national survey informed by these findings to assess how women perceive the informed consent process. Thematic analysis of online narratives revealed four key patterns: women sought information about medication abortion symptoms and side effects; emotional support; urgent reassurance during the process; and clarification of the information provided. Survey results showed that concerns about fetal remains, emotional well-being, and the risk of an incomplete abortion (retained tissue) were strongly associated with women's sense of being informed. Emotional responses also shaped these perceptions, where women who felt stressed were less likely to feel adequately informed, while those women who felt happy were more likely to report receiving sufficient information. Integration of qualitative and quantitative findings revealed consistent concerns, particularly about unanticipated symptoms, emotional distress, and the need for clearer guidance. Our results suggest that some women experience uncertainty or unmet informational needs prior to taking abortion medications, regardless of care setting. This informational gap raises the possibility of preference misalignment, whereby patients' expectations may not fully reflect their lived experience. The findings highlight a pressing need for clearer, more comprehensive, and emotionally supportive consent practices, particularly as medication abortion becomes increasingly accessible and utilized by women. Addressing these gaps can strengthen patient-centered care and ensure that women's choices are informed, respected, and aligned with their values.
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Registered trials
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.