Breaking the barriers: the promise of computer-assisted screening for intimate partner violence

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) affects hundreds of thousands of women, the majority of women seen in health care settings are not screened for IPV. Many women are hesitant to disclose their abusive situations to their health care providers and, sadly, there is evidence that when women do disclose violence, their health care providers do not give them needed support and information. This article discusses the importance of IPV screening and barriers that may contribute to the current lack of screening by providers and the low disclosure rate by IPV survivors, describes how computer-assisted screening for IPV can address those barriers, and reports the findings of an integrative review of studies about computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) IPV screening. Computer screening strategies consistently identified a higher prevalence of IPV and were the approach preferred by the study participants. The findings of these initial studies provide support for the development and testing of computer screening and intervention strategies for IPV.