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Victims of violence and the general practitioner
G Mezey1, M King, T MacClintock
1Section of Forensic Psychiatry, St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
Summary
Physical and sexual assaults are common among patients consulting general practitioners (GPs). Many women do not disclose these violent experiences, despite increased distress, highlighting the need for GP awareness and support services.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Public Health
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Rising rates of violent crime in Britain, with 17% of reported incidents being violent in 1991.
- Limited understanding of the general practitioner's (GP) role in managing violence sequelae, unlike accident and emergency departments.
- Focus on the GP's role in addressing the acute and long-term effects of violence on patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between experiencing physical or sexual assault and seeking care from GPs in London.
- To understand patient disclosure patterns regarding assault experiences to their GPs.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey conducted among adult attendees at a large group general practice.
- Data collection included prevalence of assault, reporting to healthcare providers and others, and validated psychological distress measures (GHQ, Impact of Events Scale).
Main Results:
- 17% of 195 participants reported a physical or sexual assault in the preceding year.
- Women were three times more likely than men to report any type of assault.
- Assault experiences correlated with significantly higher distress scores, yet women rarely disclosed assaults spontaneously to their GP.
Conclusions:
- Assault is a frequent occurrence for individuals consulting general practitioners.
- GPs can improve patient care by recognizing the prevalence of assault and its impact.
- Enhanced collaboration with victim support services is recommended for comprehensive patient assistance, including legal and compensation advice.