SAFE questions: overcoming barriers to the detection of domestic violence

Although domestic violence is an important public health problem in this country, several barriers tend to hinder its detection by physicians. Physicians may lack knowledge about the subject, harbor attitudes that hinder detection or lack the necessary skills to address patients who are victims of domestic violence. The SAFE questions--which address the areas of safety, abuse, friends' and family's knowledge and emergency plans--can be used to identify affected patients. In addition, these questions provide the physician with a logical framework for counseling and intervention.