title: Actuarial assessment of violence risk in hospital-based partner assault clinics.
abstract: Hospital-based partner assault clinics are a relatively recent addition to the community response to partner violence. In this study, 66% of 111 women attending hospital clinics for partner assault were physically injured and 43% reported death threats. Few concurrently used other services (shelters or police) and most relied on female friends and relatives for help. Many participants who currently lived with the perpetrator were contemplating leaving but only a third had made plans to do so. Participants faced an unusually high risk of future assault, according to both victim interview using the ODARA actuarial risk assessment and their own perceptions. Findings imply an important role for partner assault clinics and the feasibility of the victim service sector's using the same actuarial risk assessments as the criminal justice system.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada. zhilton@mhcp.on.ca
authors.forename: N Zoe
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.forename: Grant T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Norah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Holder
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009864:Ontario; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055807:Stalking / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*