Didn't put a label on it: Examining intimate partner strangulation within a diagnostic framework.

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Public health
• Violence studies

Background:

• Intimate partner strangulation is a dangerous mechanism of violence with potentially severe health consequences.
• Understanding women's experiences in emergency departments after non-fatal strangulation is crucial for improving care.
• Current diagnostic practices may not fully capture the complexities of strangulation injuries and their aftermath.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine women's emergency department visits and care-seeking experiences after non-fatal intimate partner strangulation.
• To describe symptom recognition, evaluation, and communication of health risks.
• To identify opportunities for improving clinical diagnostic processes.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods study combining in-depth, semi-structured interviews with women and medical record reviews.
• Utilized a diagnostic process framework and constant comparative approach for data analysis.
• Data collected between March 2018 and January 2019.

Main Results:

• Women often did not perceive long-term health risks beyond emotional trauma.
• Forensic and emergency nursing support were perceived as validating and therapeutic.
• Medical records documented domestic violence but rarely specifically strangulation in final diagnoses.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight a gap between women's experiences and the documentation of strangulation in medical records.
• Nurses are pivotal in improving responses to strangulation through enhanced education, communication, and follow-up.
• Further research is needed to better understand and address the long-term health impacts of non-fatal intimate partner strangulation.