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Recognizing and intervening in intimate partner violence
1Department of General Internal Medicine, Women's Health Center at The Gault Women's Health and Breast Pavilion, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA. kaurg@ccf.org
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
|June 3, 2005
Summary
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common and often missed by healthcare providers. This review outlines the detection, treatment, and legal/ethical obligations for healthcare professionals regarding IPV.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Clinical Medicine
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects a significant portion of the population, comparable to common medical conditions.
- Despite its prevalence, IPV is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated within healthcare settings.
- Healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned for early detection and intervention in cases of IPV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current landscape of intimate partner violence screening and management in healthcare.
- To delineate the responsibilities of healthcare workers in addressing IPV.
- To discuss the ethical and legal imperatives for intervening in cases of IPV.
Main Methods:
- This article is a review of existing literature and clinical guidelines.
- It synthesizes information on screening protocols, diagnostic challenges, and treatment options for IPV.
- It examines legal frameworks and ethical considerations relevant to healthcare provider actions.
Main Results:
- Routine screening for IPV is comparable in prevalence to screening for other common health issues.
- Underdiagnosis and undertreatment of IPV persist despite its high occurrence.
- Healthcare providers have a critical role in identifying and managing IPV.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare systems must prioritize IPV detection and management.
- Clinicians should be equipped with the knowledge and tools to address IPV effectively.
- Adherence to legal and ethical standards is paramount in managing IPV cases.