Intimate Partner Violence Screening Tools in Emergency Departments: A Scoping Review

Abstract

This study aims to identify and review the characteristics and uses of family violence screening tools in emergency departments (EDs) because such screenings have been observed to be implemented irregularly and inconsistently across EDs. This study is important because it provides ED clinicians with an overview and appraisal of several family violence screening tools. This study used a scoping review systematically over six databases, finding 12 suitable studies. The themes identified were (i) how family violence screening tools are used, (ii) what the barriers to implementing screening for family violence were, and (iii) what factors facilitated screening for family violence. A combination of reasons included lack of useful screening tools, training for family violence screening, privacy, time, and language barriers that hindered the use of screening for family violence. It was suggested that a beneficial screening tool and clinician support would facilitate the screening of family violence in EDs