Battered Japanese women's perceptions and experiences of beneficial health care

The purpose of this study was to explore battered Japanese women's perceptions and experiences of receiving health-care assistance that they found helpful in dealing with their partner's violence.

This study employed an interpretative qualitative design. Fifteen battered Japanese women who lived in central, western, and southern Japan were sampled. The data were collected through face-to-face individual interviews using a semistructured interview guide. The analysis was completed using the thematic analysis method.

Three themes were identified that battered Japanese women found helpful in regard to health-care providers' assistance: empathy and understanding, professional intervention, and a flexible system and assistance.

For health-care providers to effectively treat battered Japanese women, it is critical that the providers understand the dynamics of intimate partner violence and that they provide information to battered women about the available community resources and options.