Impact of domestic violence posters on female caregivers' opinions about domestic violence screening and disclosure in a pediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to examine female caregivers' attitudes about the display of domestic violence (DV) resources in a pediatric emergency department (ED) and to explore whether these resources engendered positive feelings about DV screening and encouraged disclosure. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a pediatric ED during 2 distinct periods, comparing responses of female caregivers before (pre) and after (post) displaying DV posters and cards. Women were surveyed about (1) personal experience with DV, (2) the appropriateness of DV posters and screening in a pediatric ED, and (3) willingness to divulge DV, if abused. RESULTS: The 2 groups (pre, n = 133; post, n = 136) did not significantly differ with respect to age, race, education, or personal DV history. The majority endorsed that "it is appropriate to have DV posters," with the post group responding in this manner more often than the pre group (pre, 85%; post, 95%; odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-8.5). The post group was less likely to prefer pediatric ED DV screening (pre, 76%; post, 63%; OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9) and tended to be less likely to say that they would divulge (pre, 85%; post, 75%; OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3-1.1). In both groups, women with a DV history were less likely than women without this history to say that they would disclose DV to their pediatric ED provider (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the need for further exploration of how to most effectively help and provide resources for abused women in this setting.

Health care providers' opinions on intimate partner violence resources and screening in a pediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: The American Academy of Pediatrics has called upon pediatricians to routinely screen for intimate partner violence (IPV) as an active means by which to prevent child abuse. The pediatric emergency department (ED) is one potentially important site to screen and to provide women with IPV resources. This cross-sectional questionnaire investigated pediatric health care providers' (HCPs') opinions about displaying IPV posters and performing IPV screening in a pediatric ED. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in the ED of an urban, academic, tertiary care children's hospital that serves approximately 70,000 children each year. A convenience sample of 151 HCPs, defined as any person who provided medical care, including physicians, nurses, paramedics, and respiratory therapists, in the pediatric ED was surveyed using a 4-item questionnaire, designed by investigators, about their views regarding newly displayed IPV posters and resource cards, their opinions about universal IPV screening, and their personal use of the IPV materials. Between June and August 2004, surveys were distributed, along with return envelopes to be placed in a sealed box, to HCPs during their shifts in the ED. RESULTS: Of the 158 distributed surveys, 151 (96%) were returned. Of the sample, 30% were physicians, 53% were RNs, 10% were paramedics/emergency medical technicians, and 7% were other HCPs. Pediatric ED providers supported both IPV resource information and routine screening. Female providers were more likely than men to support the IPV posters. Five percent of the sample took IPV resource information for themselves or for later use with patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our pediatric ED's providers' endorsement of IPV screening and of the presence of IPV posters demonstrates support for and recognition of the problem of IPV in their patients' families.