Fostering Interprofessional Competence in Intimate Partner Violence: A Simulation-Based Educational Framework.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent, affecting 36-50% of individuals.
• A significant gap exists in IPV training within graduate healthcare programs, with only 30% offering it.
• Interprofessional collaboration is crucial for effective IPV response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an interprofessional simulation on Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) students' knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding IPV.
• To enhance students' confidence and competence in identifying and managing IPV cases.
• To foster interprofessional collaboration among future healthcare providers, law enforcement, social workers, and advocates.

Main Methods:

• A high-fidelity, four-station simulation was implemented for 22 DNP-FNP students.
• Intervention included patient interviews, physical examinations with simulated injuries, assessment, reporting protocols, debriefing, and Danger Assessment training.
• Student learning was evaluated using pre- and post-intervention Physician Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence Surveys (PREMIS).

Main Results:

• Students reported high satisfaction with the simulation (4.7-4.8/5).
• Perceived preparation and knowledge regarding IPV management showed significant improvement (p = .0000).
• Actual knowledge scores increased from 78.4% to 82.8% post-simulation.

Conclusions:

• The interprofessional simulation effectively enhanced DNP-FNP students' readiness to address IPV.
• The training model shows promise for scalability to over 275 participants.
• Improvements in IPV identification, interprofessional collaboration, and ultimately victim outcomes are anticipated.