2.5.2 Conducting research on the sensitive topic of abortion in the U.S: Methodological challenges (278)

Joyce Cappiello, Asst. Clinical Professor of Nursing, University of New Hampshire, Durham, United States Co authors: Joy Merrell & Dorothy Rentschler

Abstract:

Background:

Limited studies have addressed women’s decision-making for medication abortion, available in the U.S. since 2001 (Andrist et al 2006). Ethical issues of researching sensitive issues have been extensively explored in the literature (Siber 1993) but less attention has focused on the challenges of accessing and recruiting samples, which this paper addresses.

Aim:

To explore women’s experiences of decision making regarding medication abortion.

Methods:

A grounded theory approach was used involving interviews with 22 women who had experienced medication abortion and 10 clinicians. Purposive and theoretical samplings were used. Recruitment spanned 24 months (October 2005-June 2007). Analysis is ongoing using the constant comparative technique.

Findings & discussion:

This methods paper focuses on the challenges of accessing and recruiting the women. Due to the polarizing abortion debate in the U.S., extreme sensitivity was required in recruiting the sample. In accordance with ethical approval, clinicians recruited the women’s sample but this proved challenging. Various strategies were used to promote recruitment. Timing of the recruitment changed from the follow up to the initial visit which better matched women’s interest in discussing their experiences. The importance of researcher credibility when exploring sensitive issues will be highlighted. Due to the sensitivity of the topic, and respect for participants’ confidentiality and anonymity, participants chose a variety of settings to be interviewed and some interviews were conducted by telephone. The impact on data generation will be discussed, as in particular the telephone interviews yielded insightful data. The reasons why women chose to participate will be explored, which may guide recruitment efforts in future studies exploring sensitive topics.

Conclusions:

Opportunities for beneficial research are overlooked as researching sensitive issues can be problematic, due to access, recruitment and sampling challenges. Increased skill in recruiting samples to explore sensitive topics has potential to benefit often overlooked, vulnerable populations.

Biography:

Joyce Cappiello MS, RN, FNP has a strong interest and commitment to the field of reproductive health care of women. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Nursing at the University of New Hampshire, where she has been teaching family and adult nurse practitioner students for the past 16 years. In addition to teaching, she works as a nurse practitioner at the Feminist Health Center of Portsmouth, providing women and their partners with comprehensive reproductive health care. As the director of the ROE Consortium at the Abortion Access Project, she is the voice of nursing for the organization. She provides expertise and strategic insight on the role of nurses in delivering abortion care and on opportunities to engage the nursing profession in curriculum development to better prepare nursing students in caring for women with reproductive issues. Combining her academic and clinical interests, she is conducting qualitative research on Women’s Experience of Decision Making with Medication Abortion while pursuing her PhD at Swansea University under the supervision of Professor Joy Merrell.