Screening for intimate partner violence in health care settings: a randomized trial.
BACKGROUND
Whether intimate partner violence (IPV) screening reduces violence or improves health outcomes for women is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of IPV screening and communication of positive results to clinicians.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial conducted in 11 emergency departments, 12 family practices, and 3 obstetrics/gynecology clinics in Ontario, Canada, among 6743 English-speaking female patients aged 18 to 64 years who presented between July 2005 and December 2006, could be seen individually, and were well enough to participate.


METHODS
Women in the screened group (n=3271) self-completed the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST); if a woman screened positive, this information was given to her clinician before the health care visit. Subsequent discussions and/or referrals were at the discretion of the treating clinician. The nonscreened group (n=3472) self-completed the WAST and other measures after their visit.


METHODS
Women disclosing past-year IPV were interviewed at baseline and every 6 months until 18 months regarding IPV reexposure and quality of life (primary outcomes), as well as several health outcomes and potential harms of screening.


RESULTS
Participant loss to follow-up was high: 43% (148/347) of screened women and 41% (148/360) of nonscreened women. At 18 months (n = 411), observed recurrence of IPV among screened vs nonscreened women was 46% vs 53% (modeled odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-2.12). Screened vs nonscreened women exhibited about a 0.2-SD greater improvement in quality-of-life scores (modeled score difference at 18 months, 3.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-7.00). When multiple imputation was used to account for sample loss, differences between groups were reduced and quality-of-life differences were no longer significant. Screened women reported no harms of screening.


CONCLUSIONS
Although sample attrition urges cautious interpretation, the results of this trial do not provide sufficient evidence to support IPV screening in health care settings. Evaluation of services for women after identification of IPV remains a priority.


BACKGROUND
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00182468.
MacMillan
Harriet L
HL
Offord Centre for Child Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Patterson Bldg, 1200 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada. macmilnh@mcmaster.ca
Wathen
C Nadine
CN
Jamieson
Ellen
E
Boyle
Michael H
MH
Shannon
Harry S
HS
Ford-Gilboe
Marilyn
M
Worster
Andrew
A
Lent
Barbara
B
Coben
Jeffrey H
JH
Campbell
Jacquelyn C
JC
McNutt
Louise-Anne
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018585:Battered Women; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult