title: Intimate Partner Violence Experienced by Physicians: A Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physicians play a significant role in screening for domestic violence. However, little information is available about the prevalence of physicians who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) or the implications for their clinical practice. National surveys indicate a potential prevalence of 16% for sexual abuse and 32% for abuse by an intimate partner. This extrapolates to more than 395,000 potential physician victims, the majority of which are women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review of IPV and physician victims from 1990 to 2014 that included peer-reviewed journals, trade books, and dissertations that referenced physician victims.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 17 publications; nine quantitative studies, four first-person accounts, one qualitative study, and a qualitative dissertation that included two physician subjects. Two case studies of victimized physicians were identified in trade books. Quantitative results noted that women reported higher prevalence for all experiences of violence [childhood exposure (6%-32%), adult IPV exposure (7%-24%)] than men (6%-10%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review highlights the need for improved understanding of physician experience with IPV, and development of physician-sensitive resources and treatment approaches. Contributions and limitations are provided for each publication. IPV exposure impacts clinical practice, including reticence to consistently screen patients. Lower reported prevalence may be related to extreme stigma among physicians that may prevent their reporting and help seeking, but more research is needed. We provide recommendations for clinical practice, education, and future research.
authors.affiliation: 1 Loma Linda University School of Medicine , Loma Linda, California.
authors.forename: Barbara Couden
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: 1 Loma Linda University School of Medicine , Loma Linda, California.
authors.forename: Ellen T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Reibling
authors.affiliation: 1 Loma Linda University School of Medicine , Loma Linda, California.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maddux
authors.affiliation: 2 George Washington University School of Medicine , Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence; D008297:Male; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*