Ramsay, Jean, Richardson, Jo, Carter, Yvonne, 1959-2009, Davidson, Leslie L. and Feder, Gene. (2002) Should health professionals screen women for domestic violence? : systematic review. BMJ, Vol.325 (No.7359). ISSN 0959-535X

Preview

PDF WRAP_Carter_Screen_Domestic_Violoence_BMJ.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader Download (388Kb)

Abstract

Objective To assess the evidence for the acceptability and effectiveness of screening women for domestic violence in healthcare settings. Design Systematic review of published quantitative studies. Search strategy Three electronic databases (Medline, Embase, and CINAHL) were searched for articles published in the English language up to February 2001. Included studies Surveys that elicited the attitudes of women and health professionals on the screening of women in health settings; comparative studies conducted in healthcare settings that measured rates of identification of domestic violence in the presence and absence of screening; studies measuring outcomes of interventions for women identified in health settings who experience abuse from a male partner or ex­partner compared with abused women not receiving an intervention. Results 20 papers met the inclusion criteria. In four surveys, 43­85% of women respondents found screening in healthcare settings acceptable. Two surveys of health professionals' views found that two thirds of physicians and almost half of emergency department nurses were not in favour of screening. In nine studies of screening compared with no screening, most detected a greater proportion of abused women identified by healthcare professionals. Six studies of interventions used weak study designs and gave inconsistent results. Other than increased referral to outside agencies, little evidence exists for changes in important outcomes such as decreased exposure to violence. No studies measured quality of life, mental health outcomes, or potential harm to women from screening programmes. Conclusion Although domestic violence is a common problem with major health consequences for women, implementation of screening programmes in healthcare settings cannot be justified. Evidence of the benefit of specific interventions and lack of harm from screening is needed.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Family violence -- Great Britain, Medical screening -- Great Britain, Women -- Health and hygiene -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	BMJ
Publisher:	BMJ Group
ISSN:	0959-535X
Date:	10 August 2002
Volume:	Vol.325
Number:	No.7359
Identification Number:	10.1136/bmj.325.7359.314
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	National Screening Committee
References:	1 Humphreys J. Children of battered women. In: Campbell JC, Humphreys J, eds. Nursing care of survivors of family violence. St Louis: Mosby, 1993. 2 World Health Organization. Violence against women information pack: a priority health issue. Geneva: WHO Women's Health and Development Programme, 1998. 3 Heath I. Domestic violence: the general practitioner's role. London: Royal College of General Practitioners, 1998. 4 Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association. Domestic violence: the role of the community nurse. London: CPHVA, 1998. 5 Royal College of Nursing. Domestic violence: guidance for nurses. London: RCN, 2000. 6 Royal College of Midwives. Domestic abuse in pregnancy. London: RCM, 1997. (Position Paper No 19.) 7 British Medical Association. Domestic violence: a health care issue? London: BMA, 1998. 8 Bewley S, Friend JR, Mezey GC, eds. Violence against women. London: RCOG Press, 1997. 9 Department of Health. Domestic violence: a resource manual for health care professionals. London: Stationery Office, 2000. 10 Waalen J, Goodwin MM, Spitz AM, Petersen R, Saltzman LE. Screening for intimate partner violence by health care providers: barriers and inter­ ventions. Am J Prev Med 2000;19:230­7. 11 Ramsay J, Richardson J, Carter Y, Feder G. Appraisal of evidence about screening women for domestic violence. (Report to National Screening Committee, 2001.) www.nelh.nhs.uk/screening/adult_pps/domestic_ violence.html (accessed 1 July 2002). 12 Friedman LS, Samet JH, Roberts MS, Hudlin M, Hans P. Inquiry about victimization experiences: a survey of patient preferences and physician practices. Arch Intern Med 1992;152:1186­90. 13 Caralis PV, Musialowski R. Women's experiences with domestic violence and their attitudes and expectations regarding medical care of abuse vic­ tims. South Med J 1997;90:1075­80. 14 Gielen AC, O'Campo PJ, Campbell JC, Schollenberger J, Woods AB, Jones AS, et al.Women's opinions about domestic violence screening and mandatory reporting. Am J Prev Med 2000;19:279­85. 15 McNutt LA, Carlson BE, Gagen D, Winterbauer N. Reproductive violence screening in primary care: perspectives and experiences of patients and battered women. J Am Med Womens Assoc 1999;54:85­90. 16 Ellis JM. Barriers to effective screening for domestic violence by registered nurses in the emergency department. Crit Care Nurs Q 1999;22:27­41. 17 Freund KM, Bak SM, Blackhall L. Identifying domestic violence in primary care practice. J Gen Intern Med 1996;11:44­6. 18 Thompson RS, Rivaro FP, Thompson DC, Barlow WE, Sugg NK, Maiuro RD, et al. Identification and management of domestic violence: a randomized trial. Am J Prev Med 2000;19:253­63. 19 Harwell TS, Casten RJ, Armstrong KA, Dempsey S, Coons HL, Davis M. Results of a domestic violence training program offered to the staff of urban community health centers. Am J Prev Med 1998;15:235­42. 20 Olson L, Anctil C, Fullerton L, Brillman J, Arbuckle J, Sklar D. Increasing emergency physician recognition of domestic violence. Ann Emerg Med 1996;27:741­6. 21 Roberts GL, Lawrence JM, O'Toole BI, Raphael B. Domestic violence in the emergency department. 2. Detection by doctors and nurses. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 1997;19:12­5. 22 Fanslow JL, Norton RN, Robinson EM, Spinola CG. Outcome evaluation of an emergency department protocol of care on partner abuse. Aust N Z J Public Health 1998;22:598­603. 23 Fanslow JL, Norton RN, Robinson EM. One year follow­up of an emergency department protocol for abused women. Aust N Z J Public Health 1999;23:418­20. 24 Morrison LJ, Allan R,Grunfeld A. Improving the emergency department detection rate of domestic violence using direct questioning. J Emerg Med 2000;19:117­24. 25 Covington DL, Diehl SJ,Wright BD, Piner M. Assessing for violence dur­ ing pregnancy using a systematic approach. Matern Child Health J 1997;1:129­33. 26 Wiist WH, McFarlane J. The effectiveness of an abuse assessment proto­ col in public health prenatal clinics. Am J Public Health 1999;89:1217­21. 27 Shepard MF, Elliott BA, Falk DR, Regal RR. Public health nurses' responses to domestic violence: a report from the Enhanced Domestic Abuse Intervention Project. Public Health Nurs 1999;16:359­66. 28 Muelleman RL, Feighny KM. Effects of an emergency department­based advocacy program for battered women on community resource utilization. Ann Emerg Med 1999;33:62­6. 29 McFarlane J, Soeken K, Reel S, Parker B, Silva C. Resource use by abused women following an intervention program: associated severity of abuse and reports of abuse ending. Public Health Nurs 1997;14:244­50. 30 McFarlane J, Parker B, Soeken K, Silva C, Reel S. Safety behaviors of abused women after an intervention during pregnancy. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 1998;27:64­9. 31 Parker B, McFarlane J, Soeken K, Silva C, Reel S. Testing an intervention to prevent further abuse to pregnant women. Res Nurs Health 1999;22:59­66. 32 Richardson J, Feder G, Eldridge S, Chung WS, Coid J, Moorey S.Women who experience domestic violence and women survivors of childhood sexual abuse: a survey of health professionals' attitudes and clinical prac­ tice. Br J Gen Pract 2001;51:468­70. 33 Eisenstat SA, Bancroft L. Domestic violence. N Engl JMed 1999;341:886­92. 34 Fitzpatrick M. The tyranny of health. London: Routledge, 2001. 35 Cole TB. Is domestic violence screening helpful? JAMA 2000;284:551­3. 36 Davidson LL, Grisso JA,Garcis­Moreno C, King VJ,Marchant S. Training programs for healthcare professionals in domestic violence. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2001;10:953­69. 37 Easteal PW, Easteal S. Attitudes and practices of doctors toward spouse assault victims: an Australian study. Violence Vict 1992;7:217­28. 38 Abbott P, Williamson E. Women, health and domestic violence. J Gend Studies 1999;8:83­102. 39 Sleutel MR. Women's experiences of abuse: a review of qualitative research. Issues Ment Health Nurs 1998;19:525­39. 40 Henderson S. Service provision to women experiencing domestic violence in Scotland. Edinburgh: Scottish Office Central Research Unit, 1997.
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/4352

Request changes to a record

Actions (login required)

View Item