<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0002_s_343_w2aab3b8b2b1b7b1aab1c15b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>In 1996 the World Health Organization declared intimate partner violence (IPV) the most important public health problem. Meta-analyses in 2013 showed every third female globally had been a victim of violence. Experts find screening controversial; family medicine is the preferred environment for identifying victims of violence, but barriers on both sides prevent patients from discussing it with doctors.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0002_s_344_w2aab3b8b2b1b7b1aab1c15b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>In July 2014, a qualitative study was performed through semi-structured interviews with ten family doctors of different ages and gender, working in rural or urban environments. Sound recordings of the interviews were transcribed, and the record verified. The data were interpreted using content analysis. A coding scheme was developed and later verified and analysed by two independent researchers. The text of the interviews was analysed according to the coding scheme.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0002_s_346_w2aab3b8b2b1b7b1aab1c15b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>Two coding schemes were developed: one for screening, and the other for the active detection of IPV. The main themes emerging as barriers to screening were lack of time, staff turnover, inadequate finance, ignorance of a clear definition, poor commitment to screening, obligatory follow-up, risk of deterioration of the doctor-patient relationship, and insincerity on the part of the patient. Additionally, cultural aspects of violence, uncertainty/helplessness, fear, lack of competence and qualifications, autonomy/negative experience, and passive role/stigma/fear on the part of the patients were barriers to active detection.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0002_s_347_w2aab3b8b2b1b7b1aab1c15b4Aa"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>All the participating doctors had had previous experience with active detection of IPV and were aware of its importance. Due to several barriers to screening for violence they preferred active detection.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionIn 1996 the World Health Organization declared intimate partner violence (IPV) the most important public health problem. Meta-analyses in 2013 showed every third female globally had been a victim of violence. Experts find screening controversial; family medicine is the preferred environment for identifying victims of violence, but barriers on both sides prevent patients from discussing it with doctors.MethodsIn July 2014, a qualitative study was performed through semi-structured interviews with ten family doctors of different ages and gender, working in rural or urban environments. Sound recordings of the interviews were transcribed, and the record verified. The data were interpreted using content analysis. A coding scheme was developed and later verified and analysed by two independent researchers. The text of the interviews was analysed according to the coding scheme.ResultsTwo coding schemes were developed: one for screening, and the other for the active detection of IPV. The main themes emerging as barriers to screening were lack of time, staff turnover, inadequate finance, ignorance of a clear definition, poor commitment to screening, obligatory follow-up, risk of deterioration of the doctor-patient relationship, and insincerity on the part of the patient. Additionally, cultural aspects of violence, uncertainty/helplessness, fear, lack of competence and qualifications, autonomy/negative experience, and passive role/stigma/fear on the part of the patients were barriers to active detection.ConclusionAll the participating doctors had had previous experience with active detection of IPV and were aware of its importance. Due to several barriers to screening for violence they preferred active detection.

Barriers to Screening and Possibilities for Active Detection of Family Medicine Attendees Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

Community Health Centre Ljubljana, Metelkova 9, 1000 Ljubljana,

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Poljanski nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana,

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

OVIRE ZA PRESEJANJE ZA NASILJE IN MOŽNOSTI DEJAVNEGA ODKRIVANJA OSEB Z IZKUŠNJO NASILJA V PARTNERSKIH ODNOSIH V DRUŽINSKI MEDICINI

IntroductionIn 1996 the World Health Organization declared intimate partner violence (IPV) the most important public health problem. Meta-analyses in 2013...

Barriers to Screening and Possibilities for Active Detection of Family Medicine Attendees Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Mar 10, 2016

Page range: 11 - 20

Received: Apr 23, 2015

Accepted: Aug 04, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2016-0002

Keywords
domestic violence, qualitative research, mass screening, early diagnosis/early detection

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Barriers to Screening and Possibilities for Active Detection of Family Medicine Attendees Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Mar 10, 2016

Page range: 11 - 20

Received: Apr 23, 2015

Accepted: Aug 04, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2016-0002

Keywordsdomestic violence, qualitative research, mass screening, early diagnosis/early detection

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
domestic violence, qualitative research, mass screening, early diagnosis/early detection