Implementation of universal screening for domestic violence in an urgent care community health center.

Given the morbidity and mortality associated with domestic violence (DV), there is international recognition that the health sector has a responsibility to prevent violence. In North America, the health sector has commonly responded by developing protocols for identifying victims of abuse. This utilization-focused evaluation describes the process involved in the implementation of a universal DV screening protocol undertaken by nurses in the urgent care clinic of a community health center. Dealing with the challenges of the urgent care setting, the strong and supportive urgent care team approach helped integrate the screening procedure into routine nursing practice. Understanding the purpose of asking about DV, quickly recognizing problems, validating staff concerns, and adapting procedures resulted in a strong commitment to implementation. This research has implications for others looking to implement or evaluate screening protocols in other health care settings.

Successful integration and maintenance of screening for domestic violence in the health sector: moving beyond individual responsibility.

Domestic violence (DV) screening and prevention interventions have been implemented in the health sector; however, few health care settings have successfully implemented protocols that have been fully integrated and sustained within the larger organization. Researchers have tended to focus on individual-level characteristics of health care providers to explain this. The authors argue that organizational, structural, social, and cultural factors, especially related to gender, also play roles in adoption and integration of these interventions. It is important for policy analysts and program evaluators to use this larger framework to ensure sustainable integration of DV screening programs within health care systems.