Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Domestic Violence in the emergency department: 2: detection by doctors and nurses
Other Titles:	General hospital psychiatry
Authors:	Lawrence, Joan M Raphael, Beverley O'Toole, Brian Roberts, Gwenneth
Keywords:	Training;Health;Screening
Year:	1997
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Citation:	(19), 1997
Notes:	Reviews the results of two studies conducted at the Emergency Department of the Royal Brisbane Hospital, to determine the detection rates of domestic violence victims by doctors and nurses. The case controlled studies were conducted 12 months apart with a training programme about domestic violence conducted for medical staff after the first study. Both showed low rates of detection of victims of domestic violence on their medical records. The study highlighted three significant outcomes: firstly, training programmes are not effective enough on their own and more steps need to be taken to increase the rate of detection; secondly, doctors and nurses have poor recognition of victims of domestic violence; and thirdly, even in situations where doctors and nurses suspected domestic abuse of a patient, it was rare for this to be recorded. Unreported abuse was a consequence of several factors: hospital social services and resources were limited; time restraints; violence being viewed as a private matter; and there being no medical or legal reason that the violence or injury resulting needed to be reported. Recommends that carefully designed training programmes for doctors and nurses both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels be made available or possibly compulsory. Argues that that training programmes alone are insufficient and that screening for domestic violence and referral resources are also required.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/14387
ISSN:	1638343
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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