Domestic Abuse

National Consensus Guidelines for Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence in the Health Care Setting

During the past fifteen years, there has been a growing recognition among health care professionals that domestic violence (DV), also known as intimate partner violence (IPV) is a highly prevalent public health problem with devastating effects on individuals, families and communities. Most Americans are seen at some point by a health care provider, and the health care setting offers a critical opportunity for early identification and even the primary prevention of abuse. Studies show that assessing for IPV in medical settings has been effective in identifying women who are victims1 and that patients are not offended when asked about current or past IPV.2 A host of professional health care associations have issued position statements to their members describing the impact of IPV on patients an suggesting strategies for assessment and identification of abuse. These statements represent important steps in raising awareness about IPV in health care settings. Generally, however, they offer neither specific guidelines for intervening and responding, nor criteria that promote the utilization and evaluation of recommended practice. These guidelines offer specific recommendations for assessing for and responding to IPV that may be applied to multiple health settings.

From the introduction of National Consensus Guidelines for Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence in Health Care Settings, Family Violence Prevention Fund, Updated 2004, www.endabuse.org

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