Objective: To evaluate the effect of an intimate partner violence (IPV) screening and intervention protocol that included a sticker placed in medical charts listing screening questions, routine IPV screening by nursing staff, clinician follow-up for women screening positive, and referral to on-site services. Methods: First, a quality assurance review was conducted for 20 randomly selected days during the study period of October 1998 to April 1999. Second, women participating in a telephone survey at the intervention site were asked about recent IPV. Lastly, brochures placed in examination rooms in both the intervention site and a referent site were monitored to assess the amount taken. Results: Of 746 charts reviewed in the quality assurance study, 36.6% were tagged for IPV screening, and of those tagged, 86.1% had documentation of screening. Approximately 5% of women screened positive for IPV, 50% of these were identified for provider follow-up, and 50% accepted provider referral to on-site services. Based on survey records linked to medical records the screening protocol primarily identified severely abused women (sensitivity 80%, specificity 100%), but rarely identified women experience low to moderate levels of abuse. IPV brochures were taken from the intervention site at a rate of 51 per 1000 visits versus 29 per 1000 visits taken from the referent site. Conclusions: Utilizing screening as the only gateway to on-site services limited access for many IPV victims. The removal of IPV brochures from examination rooms, suggests that providing contact information for self-referral to on-site services may improve access to these services.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participate will be able to: 1. Describe multiple methods useful in evalating a health care intervention. 2. Discuss current medical recommendations for interventions and potential changes needed in these recommendations.
Keywords: Battered Women, Health Care Delivery
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.