Exploring Emergency Healthcare for Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence With Comorbid Psychological Distress

Area of Science:

• Medical Care
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) significantly impacts victims' mental and physical health.
• Emergency healthcare providers are often the first point of contact for IPV survivors.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the quality of care provided to IPV victims in emergency settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To descriptively analyze care provision for women experiencing IPV with psychological distress in emergency settings.
• To identify gaps and areas for improvement in emergency healthcare for IPV survivors.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 300 patient records.
• Inclusion/exclusion criteria applied to a final sample of 32 charts (43 presentations) from 2020-2022.
• Analysis of care provision, clinician responses, and utilization of safety pathways.

Main Results:

• Clinician responses often pathologized IPV symptoms, prioritizing physiological care over psychosocial needs.
• Established patient safety pathways and outpatient services were infrequently utilized.
• Paramedics sometimes removed patient autonomy using Public Health Legislation, risking re-victimization.

Conclusions:

• Emergency healthcare for IPV survivors requires improvement beyond symptom management.
• Enhanced education on healthcare roles, family violence legislation, and outpatient services is essential.
• Addressing psychosocial needs and ensuring patient autonomy are critical for comprehensive care.