Responding to domestic violence in general practice: a qualitative study on perceptions and experiences.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Howa Yeung, Emory University; Ritam Chowdhury, Emory University; Alice Malpass, University of Bristol; Gene S. Feder, University of Bristol
• Language: English
• Date: 2012
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Howa Yeung et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/960523
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: International Journal of Family Medicine
• ISSN: 2090-2042
• Volume: 2012
• Start Page: 960523
• End Page: 960523
• Grant/Funding Information: H. Yeung and N. Chowdhury were supported by the Mack Lipkin Broader Horizons Fellowship from CUNY Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at the City College of New York.; The IRIS trial was funded by the Health Foundation, with service support costs covered by the NHS and was part of a research programme funded by the National Institute of Health Research.
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, General; Health Sciences, Health Care Management

Abstract

The perceptions and experiences among general practitioners (GPs) and nurses in identifying female patients experiencing domestic violence and referring patients to specialist agencies need to be clarified. Eleven GPs and six nurses participating in a multidisciplinary domestic violence training and support programme in east London and Bristol were interviewed. All participants recognised that identification of women experiencing domestic violence and offering support were part of their clinical roles. Perceived differences between GPs and nurses, including time constraints, level of patient interaction, awareness of patients' social history, scope of clinical interview, and patient expectations were used to explain their levels of domestic violence inquiry. Barriers to inquiry included lack of time, experience, awareness of community resources, and availability of effective interventions postdisclosure. Longstanding relationships with patients were cited both as barrier and facilitator to domestic violence disclosure. Some nurses reported discomfort with direct inquiry due to the lack of clinical experience in responding to domestic violence despite satisfaction with training. Future domestic violence training programmes should take into account potential differences between GPs and nurses, in terms of their clinical roles and the unique barriers encountered, in order to improve self-efficacy and to facilitate collaborative and effective responses.