Does It Say “Abortion”? Language Usage on Patient-Facing Websites Associated With Ryan Residency Programs [ID 964]

INTRODUCTION: Patients rely on the internet for medical information when seeking access to abortion care. We sought to characterize language describing abortion care and availability on patient-facing websites associated with Ryan residency programs and examine differences by state legislative level of access to abortion care. METHODS: An incognito internet search from a browser with clean cookies was performed for each publicly listed Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program plus the word “abortion” by two independent investigators. Each website was systematically analyzed for language describing abortion care using a list of terms developed from professional medical organization guidelines. Programs were categorized according to the Center for Reproductive Rights’ abortion access designations and compared using Fisher’s exact and Kruskal–Wallis tests. RESULTS: Patient-facing websites affiliated with 94 programs were analyzed: 47 (50%) in expanded access states, 21 (22%) in protected/not protected access states, and 26 (28%) in hostile/illegal states. Programs in expanded access states were more likely to have patient-facing abortion content on their websites (91%) compared to protected/not protected access (71%) and hostile/illegal states (46%; P <.001). Programs in expanded access states were more likely to state gestational age limits (57%) compared to protected/not protected access states (48%) and hostile/illegal states (15%; P =.002). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Program websites in states with greater abortion accessibility were more likely to have abortion content and information on when abortion care is provided. Ambiguous language and lack of information available may affect patients’ ability to access timely care.