title: Preferred communication methods of abused women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine preferred communication methods of abused women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A naturalistic study utilizing principles of Community Based Participatory Research. A total of 300 first time users of criminal justice or safe shelter for abused women were interviewed in person.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Preferred Communication Questionnaire was used to determine preference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Given the choice of phone voice, face to face, phone text, e-mail, or Facebook, traditional methods of communication (face-to-face communication and phone voice) were the primary (80% combined) and secondary (58.6% combined) preferred sources among abused women. A total of 292 women (97.3%) gave at least two preferred methods of communication, 255 (85%) gave three preferred methods, 190 (63%) gave four, and 132 (44%) used all five methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public health nurses and other professionals who serve abused women should be aware of their preferred method of communication for contact. The women in the sample preferred face-to-face and phone-voice communication; however, many were open to newer forms of communication such as texting and Facebook. Caution should be used to protect the safety of abused women when using any kind of communication.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. hegilroy@twu.edu
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gilroy
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maddoux
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: communication; intimate partner violence; social contact