Patient Perceptions of Ohio’s Mandatory 24-Hour Waiting Period and In-Person Consent [ID 1228]

INTRODUCTION: Ohio law mandates in-person consent, a 24-hour delay from consent to abortion, and restricts telemedicine for abortion. We aimed to assess patient perceptions regarding mandatory in-person consent and 24-hour waiting period. METHODS: We recruited patients attending the abortion consent encounter from all four freestanding abortion clinics in northeast Ohio. Participants completed two online surveys assessing perceptions of harm, benefit, burdens experienced, and treatment delays related to the regulations. Qualitative comments were collected. RESULTS: We screened 299 patients; 198 (66%) were eligible and enrolled. Participant demographics were similar to state abortion demographics. Most participants (80%) preferred a single encounter. Median consent-to-abortion interval was 3 days (median; interquartile range, 2, 7), more than 7 days for 32%, and more than 14 days for 6%. Half (52%) found the delay somewhat or very burdensome, whereas 20% rated it as not burdensome. Similarly, 31% perceived the wait as harmful, whereas 23% found it beneficial. The two-encounter requirement was somewhat or very burdensome for 57% and not at all burdensome for 15%; it was very or somewhat harmful for 35% and very or somewhat beneficial for 20%. Some participants (4%) indicated the requirements prevented them from obtaining abortion. Qualitative themes included increased expenses, logistical barriers, and physical and psychological harm experienced during the waiting period. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Patients prefer to obtain abortion in a single encounter. Waiting periods delay care, often for weeks. Abortion regulations obstruct access and negatively affect health. These findings inform public policy and support advocacy for evidence-based health care policy post- Dobbs .