Experiences of Healthcare Providers on Labor and Delivery with Values Clarification Workshops Prior to Implementing Induction Abortion Services

ObjectiveTo evaluate experiences of labor and delivery (L&D) staff with a Values Clarification and Attitude Transformation (VCAT) workshop on abortion perspectives and professional responsibilities prior to expanding abortion services to L&D. MethodsWe conducted VCAT workshops about abortion with 192 perinatal healthcare personnel at a single urban, community-based, tertiary care center in California. The workshops used a virtual adaptation of the Four Corners exercise, a previously published VCAT method that prompts participants to reflect on and represent diverse abortion viewpoints. Post-workshop, 25 participants, including nurses, physicians and midwives completed semi-structured interviews about their experience with the workshop. Transcripts were coded and thematically analyzed using a framework approach. ResultsFour major themes emerged: (1) VCAT promoted personal reflection and perspective taking, where participants described how representing others views deepened their understanding of their own beliefs, fostered empathy, and challenged assumptions about colleagues. 2) VCAT prompted reconsideration of professional roles and the role of L&D in abortion care with some viewing L&D as a space incompatible with abortion care and others seeing opportunity to expand inclusive, compassionate care. (3) Professional and personal contexts shaped participants engagement with the workshop with factors like compassion fatigue from many years of service in a hospital with many social needs and personal abortion experiences influencing how participants processed the workshop. (4) Respect for autonomy and commitment to patient care emerged as core, shared values, even among those with differing personal beliefs. ConclusionsVCAT workshops provided a structured opportunity for L&D staff to reflect on the complex personal and professional dimensions of abortion care. The process helped participants explore value tensions, clarify their professional roles, and identify shared ethical commitments to patient care. These findings suggest VCAT may be a valuable tool for preparing multidisciplinary perinatal teams to navigate institutional abortion care expansion with empathy, professionalism and cohesion.