title: Primary health care physicians' approach toward domestic violence in Tehran, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary health care physicians (PHCPs) are the first in the clinic to detect and help victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Therefore, their attitude and practice toward domestic violence (DV) are important to manage this problem. The aim of current study was to compare the behavior and attitude of PHCPs about DV versus other health risk factors in Tehran, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 220 PHCPs was evaluated. The study was carried out in April 2012. Two self-administered questionnaires were used to identify physicians' beliefs and behaviors on screening and intervention of DV and other health risk factors. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.0 (SPSS, Inc. Chicago, IL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and ninety eight questionnaires were analyzed. PHCPs' mean age was 39.06 (±7.5) years. Participants were just reported 10% screening of regular patients for DV compared with 29% to 48% for other health risk factors. Mean age of PHCPs was not associated with their approach toward the DV. Compared to male physicians, females spared more time for DV victims. Major of physicians (96%) believed that DV is not a private problem and is something that needs to be addressed cautiously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicated that DV screening occurs less than that of other health risk factors. Attitude of majority of PHCPs was positive for addressing this problem.
authors.affiliation: 1. MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Rasoule-Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. rasoulian.m@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasoulian
authors.affiliation: 2. MD, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mina_101@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirazi
authors.affiliation: 3. MD, MPH, Professor of Community Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Preventive Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mnojomi@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nojomi
keywords: Attitude; Domestic violence; Primary health care physicians (PHCPs); Screening