Improving Identification and Management of Partner Violence
Author Information
Author(s): Elizabeth A Edwardsen, Susan H Horwitz, Naomi A Pless, Helena D le Roux, Kevin A Fiscella
Primary Institution: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Hypothesis
Can academic detailing improve physician behavior regarding intimate partner violence identification and documentation?
Conclusion
Academic detailing shows promise in improving physician attitudes and practices towards patients in violent relationships.
Supporting Evidence
- Physicians reported increased clarity regarding their responsibility to patients experiencing IPV.
- All three study physicians reported increased comfort in identifying and documenting IPV.
- Physicians began to inquire about IPV more frequently after the intervention.
Takeaway
This study shows that teaching doctors how to ask about partner violence can help them feel more comfortable and do it more often.
Methodology
Qualitative study using academic detailing with a seven-session modular curriculum over two and a half months.
Potential Biases
Potential Hawthorne effect as physicians knew they were being observed.
Limitations
Small sample size and lack of random selection limit generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Three physicians from different primary care specialties; two female, one male; two African-American, one non-Hispanic Caucasian.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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