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.

Keywords:

• family violence
• domestic violence
• screening tool
• Emergency Department
• scoping
• intimate partner violence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joan Fang

Joan Fang is an experienced social worker with a demonstrated history of working in the social service sector. She is an advocate of practice research and implementing evidence-informed approaches. Correspondence to: Joan Fang Level 6, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry Street, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 Australia. Email: [email protected]

Euan Donley

Dr Euan Donley is the Eastern Health psychiatry clinical lead for the Emergency Departments and crisis community teams. He completed his PhD examining mental health risk assessments in Emergency Departments.