Effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of first‐trimester medical termination of pregnancy performed by non‐doctor providers: a systematic review

BACKGROUND Previous systematic reviews have concluded that medical termination of pregnancy (TOP) performed by non-doctor providers may be as effective and safe as when provided by doctors. Medical treatment of incomplete miscarriage by non-doctor providers and the treated women's acceptance of non-doctor providers of TOP has not previously been reviewed. OBJECTIVES To review the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of first-trimester medical TOP, including medical treatment for incomplete miscarriage, by trained non-doctor providers. SEARCH STRATEGY AND SELECTION CRITERIA A search strategy using appropriate medical subject headings was developed. Electronic databases (PubMed, Popline, Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched from inception through April 2016. Randomised controlled trials and comparative observational studies were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Meta-analyses were performed for included randomised controlled trials regarding the outcomes of effectiveness and acceptability to women. Certainty of evidence was established using the GRADE approach assessing study limitations, consistency of effect, imprecision, indirectness and publication bias. MAIN RESULTS Six papers were included. Medical TOP and medical treatment of incomplete miscarriage is probably equally effective when performed by non-doctor providers as when performed by doctors (RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.99-1.01). Women's acceptance, reported as overall satisfaction with the allocated provider, is probably equally high between groups (RR 1.00; 95% CI 1.00-1.01). CONCLUSION Medical TOP and medical treatment of incomplete miscarriage provided by trained non-doctor providers is probably equally as effective and acceptable to women as when provided by doctors. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Medical termination of pregnancy performed by doctors and non-doctors can be equally effective and acceptable.