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Screening 'not effective' in fight against domestic violence, researchers conclude

Date:
May 12, 2014
Source:
University of Bristol
Summary:
One in three women around the world has experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner. Although domestic violence is associated with a range of adverse health impacts, even after the abuse has ended, it is not easily identified by health care professionals, prompting some countries, notably the United States, to introduce screening programs in healthcare settings. A new study has found no evidence to support domestic violence screening.
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One in three women around the world has experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner. Although domestic violence is associated with a range of adverse health impacts, even after the abuse has ended, it is not easily identified by health care professionals, prompting some countries, notably the United States, to introduce screening programmes in healthcare settings. A new study, published online by the BMJ today [13 May], has found no evidence to support domestic violence screening.

Researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Melbourne, La Trobe and Columbia Universities and Queen Mary University in London reviewed all trials globally that assessed the effectiveness of intimate partner violence screening in primary care, antenatal care and emergency medicine departments.

They looked at 11 studies, involving 13,027 women in high-income countries. Although screening increased identification of cases by 133 per cent, the proportion of women identified was small -- ranging from three per cent to 17 per cent. There was no evidence that screening increased referrals to domestic violence support services, nor reduced violence or improved quality of life and other outcomes for domestic violence survivors.

Screening involved a range of methods to identify whether women patients had experience of domestic abuse, including face-to-face questions and computer surveys carried out during routine or emergency appointments.

Professor Gene Feder, from the University of Bristol's School of Social and Community Medicine, said: "Domestic violence is a crime and breach of human rights with major public health and clinical impact. Screening women in healthcare settings is national policy in some countries.

"By looking at research trials carried out around the world, we found no evidence that screening improves access to specialist domestic violence support or leads to a reduction of violence. This is an example of research that tells us what not to do. Yes, doctors and nurses need to ask women patients about abuse, but not all women patients. We need to shift the research focus towards developing effective care for survivors of domestic violence after they have disclosed, however they are identified."

The findings support the NICE domestic violence guidelines and the World Health Organisation's (WHO) intimate partner violence guidelines, which do not recommend domestic violence screening. They do recommend training of clinicians and development of care pathways to specialist domestic violence services, currently suffering funding cuts.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Bristol. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. L. J. O'Doherty, A. Taft, K. Hegarty, J. Ramsay, L. L. Davidson, G. Feder. Screening women for intimate partner violence in healthcare settings: abridged Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 2014; 348 (may12 1): g2913 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.g2913

Cite This Page:

University of Bristol. "Screening 'not effective' in fight against domestic violence, researchers conclude." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 May 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140512214033.htm>.
University of Bristol. (2014, May 12). Screening 'not effective' in fight against domestic violence, researchers conclude. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140512214033.htm
University of Bristol. "Screening 'not effective' in fight against domestic violence, researchers conclude." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140512214033.htm (accessed March 27, 2024).

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