Battered Japanese women's perceptions and experiences of beneficial health care.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore battered Japanese women's perceptions and experiences of receiving health-care assistance that they found helpful in dealing with their partner's violence.


METHODS
This study employed an interpretative qualitative design. Fifteen battered Japanese women who lived in central, western, and southern Japan were sampled. The data were collected through face-to-face individual interviews using a semistructured interview guide. The analysis was completed using the thematic analysis method.


RESULTS
Three themes were identified that battered Japanese women found helpful in regard to health-care providers' assistance: empathy and understanding, professional intervention, and a flexible system and assistance.


CONCLUSIONS
For health-care providers to effectively treat battered Japanese women, it is critical that the providers understand the dynamics of intimate partner violence and that they provide information to battered women about the available community resources and options.
Nemoto
Keiko
K
UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence, Madison, Wisconsin 53713, USA. keikonemotojp@yahoo.co.jp
Rodriguez
Rachel
R
Mkandawire-Valhmu
Lucy
L
D001294:Attitude to Health; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007564:Japan; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence