A qualitative study of intimate partner violence universal screening by family therapy interns: implications for practice, research, training, and supervision.
Although a few family therapy researchers and clinicians have urged universal screening for intimate partner violence (IPV), how screening is implemented-and, in particular, client and therapist response to screening-is vaguely defined and largely untested. This qualitative study examined the dilemmas experienced by couples and family therapy interns when implementing universal screening for IPV in an outpatient clinic setting. Twenty-two graduate students in a COAMFTE-accredited program were interviewed using qualitative research methods grounded in phenomenology. Three domains, 7 main themes, and 26 subthemes were identified. The three domains that emerged in this study include (a) therapist practice of universal screening, (b) client response to universal screening, and (c) therapist response to universal screening. Implications for practice, research, training, and supervision are discussed.
Todahl
Jeffrey L
JL
College of Education, Couples and Family Therapy, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5251, USA. jtodahl@uoregon.edu
Linville
Deanna
D
Chou
Liang-Ying
LY
Maher-Cosenza
Patricia
P
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D009511:New England; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure