Screening for family and intimate partner violence: recommendation statement

This statement summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for family and intimate partner violence based on the USPSTF's examination of evidence specific to family and intimate partner violence. It updates the 1996 recommendations contained in the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, second edition. In 1996, the USPSTF found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of specific instruments to detect domestic violence (a "C" recommendation according to 1996 grade definitions). The Task Force now uses an explicit process in which the balance of benefits and harms is determined exclusively by the quality and magnitude of the evidence. As a result, current letter grades are based on different criteria than those in 1996. Current explanations of the ratings and of the strength of overall evidence are given in Appendix A and in Appendix B, respectively. The complete information on which this statement is based, including evidence tables and references, is available in the summary article and in the Systematic Evidence Review, "Screening for Family and Intimate Partner Violence: Systematic Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force." The USPSTF recommendations, the accompanying summary article, and complete Systematic Evidence Review are available through the USPSTF web site (http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov). The summary article and the USPSTF recommendation statement are available in print through the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse (call 1-800-358-9295 or e-mail ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov).