title: Domestic violence screening rates in a community health center urgent care clinic.
abstract: We describe the screening rates obtained in the first year of implementation of a universal domestic violence screening protocol by nurses in the urgent care clinic of a Canadian community health center. Rates were calculated using data extracted from electronic patient health records, and a random patient chart pull. Qualitative methods provided additional information. Screening rates were considerably higher and were maintained longer than those recorded in similar settings reported in the literature. Leadership, including monitoring of documentation rates, was key to maintaining higher than average rates. Asking all patients in urgent care settings about domestic violence may improve overall screening rates and play an important role in public education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Wilfreda E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Thurston
authors.forename: Leslie M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tutty
authors.forename: Amanda E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Eisener
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lalonde
authors.forename: Cathie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belenky
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Osborne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012107:Research Design; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data