Impact of Setting on Disclosing Intimate Partner Violence to Clinicians
Author Information
Author(s): Jane Liebschutz, Tracy Battaglia, Erin Finley, Tali Averbuch
Primary Institution: Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
The setting of disclosure of intimate partner violence (IPV) might be important to the patient experience.
Conclusion
Survivor satisfaction with IPV disclosure is shaped by the setting of the encounter.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants valued clinicians who knew them well over time.
- Beneficial encounters were characterized by familiarity with the clinician and acknowledgment of the abuse.
- There were no harmful disclosures in any specialty.
Takeaway
When women talk about their experiences with abuse, where they do it matters. Some places make them feel better, while others can make them feel worse.
Methodology
In-depth interviews with English-speaking female IPV survivors were analyzed for common themes using Grounded Theory qualitative research methods.
Potential Biases
Participants were only women who had used community resources, which may not represent all IPV survivors.
Limitations
Self-report may be subject to recall bias, and the interviews occurred almost 10 years ago, which may not reflect current clinician responses.
Participant Demographics
Participants were English-speaking female IPV survivors aged 18-56, with 5 white, 10 Latina, and 12 black.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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