Healthcare professionals in the medical care of abortion. A qualitative analysis of the work, biography and involvement of healthcare professionals in medical care.

Initial supervisor
Prof. Dr Daphne Hahn
Second supervisor
Prof. Dr Susanne Kümpers

In 2022, 103,927 abortions were reported in Germany. Despite this, the number of reporting centres (medical facilities that perform abortions) fell by 46% between 2003 and 2020, while at the same time a shortage of healthcare professionals (in this study, MFAs, MTAs, OTAs, nurses) passed. Most abortions are performed on an outpatient basis, with healthcare professionals in private practices working closely with doctors. For example, they provide support in the operating theatre, supervise the women before and after the procedure, organise the procedure and are often the first contact person.

Healthcare professionals also take on specific tasks during medical abortions. However, there is a lack of clarity about their exact actions and behaviour, as well as their influence on the care situation and the women during the abortion - this is where a research desideratum emerges, which the doctoral project addresses.

In addition, the biographies of the professionals and their paths into the specific field of abortion care, as well as their understanding of and involvement in high-quality medical care for abortions will be analysed. The data collection is carried out by means of explorative interviews with the healthcare professionals and participant observations in the practices and follows the theoretical sampling. The data is analysed using grounded theory, with professional theories forming the theoretical framework.

Academic and professional qualifications
M. Sc. Public Health

B. Sc. Health Care Management

Physiotherapist

Academic activities
Since March 2022: holder of a doctoral position within the framework of ProGEPP in the "Health and Nutrition" doctoral research group

Since November 2020: Research assistant on the ELSA study (www.elsa-studie.de)

Since 2017: Research assistant at the Department of Applied Sciences at Fulda University of Applied Sciences

E-mail address: heike.vollmer@gw.hs-fulda.de

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