title: Increasing physician comfort level in screening and counseling patients for intimate partner violence: hands-on practice.
abstract: A paucity of literature exists on implementing and evaluating residency curriculum addressing intimate partner violence. We used unknown simulated patients in a university-based family practice clinic following a pilot curriculum intervention. The curriculum focused on physician comfort with screening, counseling, and referral of patients, using standard conferences as well as a role-play session. Subsequently, unknown simulated patients were inserted into residents' clinic schedules during videotaped sessions. Evaluation included skills checklists from simulated patients, review of videotapes, and post-study resident interviews. Use of unknown simulated patients encouraged residents to consider and screen for intimate partner violence. Using simulated patients is logistically complex but provides a powerful residency training tool. Residents reported attitude changes favoring a more comprehensive role and reported greater comfort and confidence with screening and counseling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hinman Box 7250, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. patricia.t.glowa@hitchcock.org
authors.forename: Patricia T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Glowa
authors.forename: Pamela York
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Frasier
authors.forename: Warren P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000628:therapy