Screening for intimate partner violence in medical settings. Trauma Violence Abuse 2007 Apr;8(2):199-213
Date
06/05/2007Pubmed ID
17545574DOI
10.1177/1524838007301221Scopus ID
2-s2.0-34250732964 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 66 CitationsAbstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with negative health consequences. Universal screening for IPV offers many opportunities for successful intervention, yet this practice in medical settings is controversial. This article examines the potential impact of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for IPV screening and the emerging literature supporting measurable health benefits resulting from screening interventions in medical settings. Several screening tools and methods of administration that have been evaluated in various clinical settings, with goals to increase their sensitivity and to determine a best method of administration, are reviewed in this article. Mandatory reporting is closely linked to screening practices and may influence healthcare worker practice and patient disclosure. Mandatory reporting studies are lacking and show variable physician compliance, victim acceptance, and scant outcome data. Informed consent prior to screening, explaining the process of mandatory reporting statutes and victim options should be evaluated to increase sensitivity of screening tools.
Author List
Phelan MBAuthor
Mary Beth Phelan MD, RDMS Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
FemaleHumans
Male
Mandatory Reporting
Mass Screening
Sexual Partners
Spouse Abuse
