Recorded presentation

Stacey B. Plichta, ScD¹, Ann Marie Kopitzke, MPA¹, Holly Beard, MPA¹, Laurel S. Garzon, DNSc, CPNP², Carolyn Rutledge, PhD², and Richardean S. Benjamin, RN, MPH, PhD². (1) College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, 129 Spong Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529, 757-683-4989, splichta@odu.edu, (2) School of Nursing,2103 Hughes Hall, Old Dominion University, Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23529

Purpose: To examine the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) held by incoming Nurse Practitioner students, and to examine the relationship between cultural competence level and attitudes.

Methods: All 41 entering NP students were assessed, via e-mail, on cultural competence,as well as knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about IPV victims. The majority of the students were female (100%), under age 45 (74%), white (82%), married (74%), and worked as a nurse for an average of 12.6 years.

Results: Students had good attitudes towards IPV victims, with few holding victim-blaming attitudes. However, 58% felt their role as a health care provider was limited in helping the victim, 30% did not know how to ask about IPV, and 42% felt that there was nothing they could do to help the victim because she was unlikely to leave. The majority did not believe that they had the resources or knowledge available to help and most scored poorly (less than 75% correct) on an IPV knowledge test. Negative attitudes signficantly decreased as cultural competence, IPV knowledge and IPV beliefs about resouces increased.

Conclusions: NP students need help in understanding how they can assist IPV victims. A training approach that emphasizes a good grounding in cultural competence and solid information about IPV may be helpful. This project will next test the effect of a standardized patient encounter (IPV scenario) on student attitudes.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the attitudes toward victims of IPV that NP students may enter a program with.
• Assess the relationship between IPV knowledge, belief in available resources and attitudes towards IPV victims.
• Understand the relationship between cultural competency and attitudes towards IPV victims.

Keywords: Cultural Competency, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.

Recorded presentation