title: Female veterans' preferences for counseling related to intimate partner violence: Informing patient-centered interventions.
abstract: Female veterans are at high risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). A critical issue in the provision of health care to women who experience IPV is the delivery of effective brief counseling interventions that address women's unique needs. We aimed to identify female veterans' priorities and preferences for healthcare-based IPV counseling.
  
  
  
  A 2014 Web-based survey was administered to a national sample of US female veterans. Among 411 respondents (75% participation rate), 55% (n=226) reported IPV during their lifetime. These women identified priorities for the content focus of IPV-related counseling and preferences for the delivery of these services.
  
  
  
  Women prioritized counseling that focuses on physical safety and emotional health, with learning about community resources being a relatively lower priority. Participants preferred counseling to focus specifically on enhancing coping skills and managing mental health symptoms. In addition, women want counseling to be individualized and preferred the option to meet with a counselor immediately following disclosure. Affordable services and attention to privacy concerns were of paramount importance in the context of IPV-related counseling.
  
  
  
  These findings can inform patient-centered brief counseling interventions for women who experience IPV, which may ultimately reduce health disparities and violence among this population.
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: katherine.iverson@va.gov.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Iverson
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Shannon Wiltsey
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Stirman
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Street
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Megan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: S Louisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Melissa E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dichter
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bair-Merritt
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Dawne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vogt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Brief counseling; Integrated care; Partner abuse; Patient preferences; Women veterans