Intimate partner violence screening in the emergency department: U.S. medical residents' perspectives

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is physical, psychological, or sexual harm committed by a current or former partner, spouse, boy/girlfriend. In the United States, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (2003) estimates that 1.5 million women experience physical assault each year while the lifetime prevalence rate of IPV for women reaches almost 30%. Given the frequency and range of injuries and other health-related problems that result from IPV, the medical system shows promise as a central source of service provision for large numbers of abused women and their children. However, identification rates of IPV in many medical settings are low. This article describes a study that examined focus group data from 25 physicians in residency training at an urban hospital in the United States. Physicians discussed their knowledge and attitudes about IPV screening in the emergency department (ED) setting and suggestions to address perceived barriers to such screening. These data depict multiple barriers to physician screening of IPV in the ED. Findings substantiate previous research and provide new direction for enhancing IPV identification, referral, and treatment mechanisms in the ED setting including alternatives to physician mandated universal screening.