Journal Article

Intimate Partner Violence

Dicola, Daniel, MD, Spaar, Elizabeth, DO

2016

Overview

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent worldwide health problem, affecting women more commonly than men. IPV is underreported and underrecognized by health care professionals. Even when IPV is recognized, it remains an underaddressed issue. In addition to physical injury and death, IPV causes significant physical and psychiatric health problems commonly treated by family physicians. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all female patients of childbearing age for IPV. There are several brief screening tools that have been proven effective at detecting IPV and that can be used in the office setting. Identification of IPV allows the physician to provide better care and improves health outcomes for the survivor. Family physician offices should provide patients with local and national resources. Thorough documentation of injuries sustained from abuse is critical. Although caring for patients unready to leave an abusive relationship may be challenging for the physician, continuous, supportive care improves patient outcomes.

• Publisher: American Academy of Family Physicians
• Subject: Adult / Birth weight / Clinical Competence / Confidentiality / Domestic violence / Drug abuse / Family Practice - education / Family Practice - methods / Fear & phobias / Female / Health care / Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Humans / Internal Medicine / Intervention / Intimate Partner Violence - prevention & control / Intimate Partner Violence - statistics & numerical data / Mass Screening - methods / Mass Screening - psychology / Mental health / Pain / Patients / Physician's Role / Physicians / Post traumatic stress disorder / Pregnancy / Prevalence / Spouse Abuse - diagnosis / Spouse Abuse - prevention & control / Spouse Abuse - psychology / Spouse Abuse - statistics & numerical data / Womens health