Implementation of universal screening for domestic violence in an urgent care community health center.
Given the morbidity and mortality associated with domestic violence (DV), there is international recognition that the health sector has a responsibility to prevent violence. In North America, the health sector has commonly responded by developing protocols for identifying victims of abuse. This utilization-focused evaluation describes the process involved in the implementation of a universal DV screening protocol undertaken by nurses in the urgent care clinic of a community health center. Dealing with the challenges of the urgent care setting, the strong and supportive urgent care team approach helped integrate the screening procedure into routine nursing practice. Understanding the purpose of asking about DV, quickly recognizing problems, validating staff concerns, and adapting procedures resulted in a strong commitment to implementation. This research has implications for others looking to implement or evaluate screening protocols in other health care settings.
Thurston
Wilfreda E
WE
Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, and Institute for Gender Research at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. thurston@ucalgary.ca
Tutty
Leslie M
LM
Eisener
Amanda C
AC
Lalonde
Lise
L
Belenky
Cathie
C
Osborne
Belinda
B
D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017579:Domestic Violence; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000451:nursing* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009730:Nursing Assessment