When individuals experience intimate partner or gender-based violence (IPV and GBV), it is important for clinicians to be able to screen for intimate partner violence and gender-based violence and connect patients to appropriate resources.
Dr. Emma Duchesne, Emergency Medicine physician and researcher, shares her thoughts on the current state of intimate partner violence and gender-based violence research, patient care in the Emergency Department and future directions for improvement.
How can the emergency department play a key role in identifying and preventing deaths related to intimate partner violence?
“A recent Canadian report found that more than two-thirds of all victims of femicide were killed by an intimate partner.1
Among those murdered by their abuser, 44% were seen in the emergency department within two years preceding their death.2
These findings highlight how the emergency department can play a pivotal role in preventing morbidity and mortality related to intimate partner violence.”
As an emergency physician, what alarms you when it comes to patients coming into the emergency department for intimate partner violence and gender-based violence?
“Despite this opportunity for intervention, it is quite alarming to me as an emergency physician that intimate partner violence continues to be under-recognized in the clinical setting.
For example, one study from Michigan found that, among individuals identified as experiencing intimate partner violence by the county prosecutor’s office, only 6% were identified by emergency providers.”3
What types of barriers affect patients experiencing intimate partner violence from receiving the proper care they need?
“A systematic review we conducted in 20224 identified common negative experiences during emergency department visits among patients experiencing intimate partner violence, largely due to a lack of trauma-informed care, as well as limited time and privacy in the emergency setting.
These barriers to effective, high-quality care often arise from the systemic and institutional-level factor, highlighting the importance of organizational and policy-driven improvement to enhance overall care experiences.”
As a researcher, what gaps currently remain when it comes to research about intimate partner violence and gender-based violence, and what is needed to bridge these gaps?
“There also remains significant gaps in the research landscape, including the need for more research focused on intimate partner violence among men, 2SLGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and other equity-deserving groups.
Continued investigation is essential to better understand the unique needs and experiences of these populations, with the goal of informing more inclusive and effective clinical and policy responses in the years ahead.”
Sources:
- Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability. #CallItFemicide – Understanding sex/gender-related killings of women and girls in Canada, 2018-2022, 2023.
- Huecker MR, King KC, Jordan GA, Smock W. Domestic Violence. Domestic violence. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. 2023
- Kothari CL, Rhodes KV. Missed opportunities: emergency department visits by police- identified victims of intimate partner violence. Ann Emerg Med 2006
- Duchesne E, Nathoo A, Walker M, Bartels SA. Patient and Provider emergency care experiences related to intimate partner violence: a systematic review of the existing evidence. Trauma Violence Abuse, 2023
