Predictors of physicians' responses to woman abuse: the role of gender, background, and brief training.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between gender, background, and brief training and physicians' detection of and treatment for woman abuse.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental and correlational designs, plus control for background factors.


METHODS
Two residency training programs: general internal medicine and family practice.


METHODS
Thirty-five participants were residents and four were faculty members; 17 were trained and 22 were untrained physicians; 20 were women and 19 were men.


METHODS
Immediately after an encounter with each physician, a standardized patient rated speed of detection, history taking, planning, and focus on psychosocial issues.


RESULTS
Women tended to detect the abuse earlier and take a more thorough history. Trained and untrained groups did not differ on any outcome variable. Prior professional training and having personally known a victim were positively associated with outcome, especially among men.


CONCLUSIONS
Referrals might best be made to women counselor/advocates. More extensive training of all personnel may be needed than that provided in this study.
Saunders
D G
DG
University of Michigan, School of Social Work, Ann Arbor 48103.
Kindy
P
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010819:Physician's Role; D010822:Physicians, Women; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*