Preparing Future Pharmacists to Identify and Address Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Pharmacy Practice.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pharmacy Practice
• Social Science

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects nearly half of individuals in the U.S. lifetime.
• Pharmacists are increasingly providing sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception.
• Existing guidelines recommend IPV screening during reproductive health consultations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential role of pharmacists in screening for and responding to intimate partner violence (IPV).
• To assess the current integration of IPV considerations in pharmacy practice guidelines.
• To advocate for enhanced IPV education within pharmacy curricula.

Main Methods:

• Review of statewide protocols for pharmacist-prescribed contraception and HIV pre/post-exposure prophylaxis.
• Analysis of existing recommendations for IPV screening in healthcare settings.
• Assessment of current pharmacy education standards regarding IPV.

Main Results:

• Protocols for pharmacist-provided contraception and HIV prophylaxis are increasingly incorporating IPV considerations.
• A gap exists in comprehensive IPV education for pharmacists.
• Pharmacists' community presence and expanding services position them for IPV screening and referrals.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacists are well-positioned to screen for IPV and connect patients with resources, particularly within sexual and reproductive health services.
• Embedding IPV training into pharmacy curricula is essential to address educational gaps.
• Enhanced training will support pharmacists in recognizing abuse, screening patients, and making appropriate referrals, aligning with professional standards.