Visits coded as intimate partner violence in emergency departments: characteristics of the individuals and the system as reported in a national survey of emergency departments.
BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to explore the characteristics of intimate partner violence (IPV) victims whose visit was coded as IPV and the health care delivery system in emergency departments (ED).


METHODS
This study utilized a secondary data analysis of a national probability sample that comprised the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1997 to 2001.


RESULTS
There were 111 coded ED visits of IPV victims 16 years or older (equivalent of 482,979 out of 4 million national visits for the 5-year study period). Women (94%), African Americans (35%), those 25 to 44 years of age (64%), and uninsured patients (38%) were significantly more likely to be categorized as an IPV visit (odds ratios 14, 1.9, 2.7, and 2.4, respectively) compared with non-IPV visits. Characteristics of the health care delivery system (region, metropolitan vs. non-metropolitan, type of hospital, and type of health care provider) were not associated with IPV.


CONCLUSIONS
Caution should be implemented when interpreting the study results because they represent only coded IPV visits in the emergency department. The study findings suggest the critical need to improve identification, documentation, and coding of IPV visits.
Btoush
Rula
R
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Nursing, Newark, NJ 07101, USA. btoushrm@umdnj.edu
Campbell
Jacquelyn C
JC
Gebbie
Kristine M
KM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004282:Documentation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000458:organization & administration; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D038801:International Classification of Diseases / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology