Neuropsychology and family violence: a national survey of training and knowledge levels in clinical neuropsychologists

Figures & data

Table 1. Survey responses by state

State	National Endorsed NP %	Respondents %	Respondents (N = 92)
Victoria	45.73	51.09	47
New South Wales	25.07	19.57	18
Queensland	15.67	3.26	3
Western Australia	5.13	4.35	4
South Australia	3.84	13.04	12
Australian Capital Territories	1.42	4.35	4
Tasmania	0.85	3.26	3
Northern Territory	0.57	1.09	1
No place of primary practice	1.71	-	-

NP: Neuropsychologists

Table 2. Respondents’ areas of clinical practice

Patient Group	%	Patient group	%
Traumatic Brain Injury	58.70	General Medical Outpatients	23.91
Rehabilitation	46.74	Learning Disorders	23.91
Neurology	44.57	ASD/ADHD	23.91
Geriatrics	38.04	Paediatrics	18.48
Adult Mental Health	38.04	Epilepsy	15.22
Aged Mental Health	26.09	Child/Youth Mental Health	11.96
General Medical Inpatients	26.09	Other	9.78

ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Table 3. Percentage of respondents’ hours of family violence training by location/provider

Training type	None	1 – 3 hrs	4 – 6 hrs	7 – 9 hrs	10 – 15 hrs	16+ hrs
Self-taught	40.22	41.30	6.52	3.26	4.35	4.35
In-service session/s at hospital/clinic	42.39	38.04	13.04	3.26	2.17	1.09
In-service session/s at another health location	91.30	6.52	1.09	0.00	1.09	0.00
One-off workshop, external training	79.35	14.13	5.43	1.09	0.00	0.00
External short course	97.83	1.09	0.00	0.00	0.00	1.09
During your professional training	76.09	19.57	1.09	2.17	1.09	0.00
Other	85.87	6.52	2.17	1.09	1.09	3.26.

Table 4. Respondents self-ratings of knowledge, confidence and experience in family violence

Question	Respondent Ratings by Percentage of Sample
How would you rate your knowledge of working clinically in the area of FV?	No Knowledge	Little Knowledge	Moderate Knowledge	Strong Knowledge	Very Knowledgeable
	10.87	46.74	35.87	5.43	1.09
How confident are you working clinically in the area of FV?	Not at all confident	A little amount confident	Moderately confident	Confident	Very Confident
	28.26	39.13	27.17	4.35	1.09
How often do you screen patients/ clients for their experiences of FV?	Never	Rarely	Sometimes	Often	Always
	11.96	32.61	39.13	10.87	5.43
How often do you work with patients/clients who have disclosed FV, to your knowledge?	Never	Very Seldom	Sometimes	Often	Most of the time	Always
	6.52	27.17	51.09	10.87	3.26	1.09

FV: Family Violence

Figure 1. Neuropsychologists family violence clinical skills

Table 5. Challenges addressing family violence endorsed by respondents

Barrier	%
Patient/client’s reluctance to disclose when asked	48.91
Time limitations when seeing a patient/client	41.30
The patient/client’s partner/child/parent (i.e. suspected perpetrator) is present	41.30
I don’t know what to do or say	31.52
Concern about offending the patient/client or affecting rapport	29.35
Lack of supporting policies and procedures	21.74
Language barriers	18.48
Another vulnerable person is present (i.e. children)	17.39
Little or no access to supervision that supports safe and reflective practice	15.22
The topic of FVis uncomfortable	13.04
Privacy issues in the clinical area in which I work	13.04
Other (please specify)	11.96
Concerns about staff safety in asking questions about FV and initiating action	7.61

FV: Family Violence