What Are We Missing?: Evaluating an Intimate Partner Violence Screening Program in a Pediatric Emergency Department

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue.
• Screening for IPV in healthcare settings is recommended.
• The long-term effectiveness of IPV screening programs in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) requires ongoing evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess pediatric emergency department (ED) healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding an established intimate partner violence (IPV) screening program.
• To evaluate the impact of a 4-year-old IPV screening program on provider practices and identify persistent barriers.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous electronic surveys and telephone interviews were employed for a mixed-methods analysis.
• Quantitative data were analyzed using chi-squared tests.
• Qualitative data from interviews were analyzed using an unstructured approach.

Main Results:

• 141 survey responses (35% response rate) and 20 telephone interviews were analyzed.
• Pediatric ED providers demonstrated awareness of the IPV screening program and universally endorsed routine screening.
• Provider behaviors indicated selective screening, with males and nontraditional caregivers screened less frequently. Barriers included patient acuity, time constraints, and the presence of multiple caregivers.

Conclusions:

• Despite established programs and training, provider screening practices for IPV in pediatric EDs remain inconsistent.
• Further research is needed to identify and address the root causes of provider barriers to IPV screening.
• Overcoming these barriers is crucial for developing sustainable and effective IPV screening programs in pediatric ED settings.