Enhanced Versus Basic Referral for Intimate Partner Violence in an Urban Emergency Department Setting

Victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) frequently do not disclose abuse to medical providers. Therefore, research has examined the most effective screening and referral methods to help identify victims of abuse and connect them to needed resources.

To determine the efficacy of referrals intended to connect IPV victims with behavioral health resources, while taking into consideration demographic and mental health variables.

We examined a convenience sample of medically stable individuals in an emergency department setting. Participants were given the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Partner Violence Screen measures to assess mental health and IPV victimization. Individuals that screened positive were randomized to a basic or enhanced referral and given a follow-up interview to determine referral success. Referrals were considered successful if an individual scheduled an appointment with provided behavioral health resources within the follow-up interval.

Two-hundred and one individuals were enrolled. Forty-one (20.4%) participants screened positive for IPV victimization. Male and female participants in the enhanced referral group were more likely to have a successful referral than those in the basic referral group, with a large effect size such that 72.7% of participants in the enhanced referral and 15.7% of participants in the basic referral group contacted referral resources. Both referral type and marital status significantly predicted referral success.

Comorbidity with mental health concerns measured as high within those that screened positive for IPV victimization. The enhanced referral showed to be an effective way to encourage participants to contact behavioral health resources.