Interpersonal violence screening for ambulatory gynecology patients.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the effects of patient and health care provider variables on rates of interpersonal violence screening in an ambulatory gynecology practice.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 300 patients were chosen randomly from annual health care visits during 2007 at a university-affiliated ambulatory gynecology clinic. All encounters were recorded on a standardized health history form, which included questions about abuse history. Data on patient and health care provider characteristics were collected. The association of health care provider screening with selected patient variables was assessed using multivariable logistic regression.


RESULTS
The median age of the study population was 29 years (range 15-73 years). The cohort was racially and ethnically diverse, and the majority was on government assistance. Sixty-seven percent (194 of 291) had children living at home, and 57% (164 of 286) were single. Of the 300 patients, 243 (81%) had documentation of abuse screening in their medical records. Variables previously found to be associated with higher rates of partner abuse such as younger age or increased parity did not influence whether patients were screened. Similarly, differences in screening by health care provider type (nurse practitioner or resident) or health care provider gender did not emerge. Patients were, however, significantly more likely to be questioned about partner violence when they received other preventive screening (adjusted odds ratio 2.50, 95% confidence interval 1.26-4.99) or presented with a somatic pain complaint (adjusted odds ratio 2.55, 95% confidence interval 1.12-5.83).


CONCLUSIONS
Ambulatory gynecology patients were more likely to be screened for interpersonal violence when health care providers performed other preventive health screening using a standardized health history form.


METHODS
II.
Kang
Jennifer A
JA
From Women and Infants Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina; and University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, Florida.
Gottlieb
Amy S
AS
Raker
Christina A
CA
Aneja
Sonia S
SS
Boardman
Lori A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult