Implications of Dobbs v. Jackson for patients and providers: a scoping review

IntroductionOn June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson overturned the right to abortion set forth by Roe v. Wade, granting states the authority to regulate access to abortion services. This has led to widespread bans, threatening patients access to, and healthcare providers abilities to provide, the full spectrum of reproductive health services. The ruling disproportionately affects marginalized groups, exacerbating existing social disparities in health and is an emerging public health crisis. MethodsWe conducted a scoping review to evaluate the impact of Dobbs on patients health outcomes and access to health services, as well as on medical trainees and healthcare providers ability to access abortion training and provide reproductive health services. The search was based on the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRSIMA-ScR) guidelines. We searched eight bibliographic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, Science Direct, JSTOR, and Web of Science) and three preprint servers (medRxiv, bioRxiv, and Europe PMC) using various combinations of keywords related to abortion and Dobbs v. Jackson on March 22, 2023. Four reviewers independently screened the studies based on pre-specified eligibility criteria and one reviewer performed data extraction for pre-identified themes. ResultsA total of 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. We found that Dobbs led to a surge in demand for contraception, compounded existing travel- and cost-related barriers to access, increased polarizing views on social media (e.g., Twitter), and evoked significant fears and concerns among medical trainees regarding their scope of practice and fears of legal repercussions for offering standard-of-care and related services to patients seeking abortions. ConclusionOur study offers valuable insights into the clinical implications of Dobbs on patients health outcomes and access to health services, as well as providers reproductive health practices.