title: Are Future Doctors Taught to Respond to Intimate Partner Violence? A Study of Australian Medical Schools.
abstract: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women of childbearing age. This study aimed to describe delivery of IPV education in Australian pre-vocational medical degrees, and barriers and facilitators influencing this delivery. Eighteen Australian medical schools offering pre-vocational medical degrees were identified. Two were excluded as they had not finalized new curricula. One declined to participate. At least one staff member from each of the remaining 15 schools completed a telephone survey. Main outcome measures included whether IPV education was delivered within the degree, at what stage, and whether it was compulsory; mode and number of hours of delivery; and barriers and facilitators to delivery. Twelve of the medical schools delivered IPV education (median time spent per course = 2 hr). IPV content was typically included as part of Obstetrics and Gynecology or General Practice curriculum. Barriers included time constraints and lack of faculty commitment, resources, and funding. The two schools that successfully implemented a comprehensive IPV curriculum used an integrated, advocacy-based approach, with careful forward planning. Most Australian pre-vocational medical students receive little or no IPV education. The need remains for a more consistent, comprehensive approach to IPV education in medical degrees.
authors.affiliation: 1 The University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Jodie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valpied
authors.affiliation: 1 The University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aprico
authors.affiliation: 1 The University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Janita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clewett
authors.affiliation: 1 The University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hegarty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence; D008297:Male; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: curriculum; doctor training; domestic violence; intimate partner violence; medical training