title: Abused women's experiences of a primary care identification and referral intervention: a case study analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to report the findings of a qualitative case study that investigated abused women's experiences of an identification and referral intervention and to discuss the implications for nurses, specifically those working in primary and community care.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Domestic violence and abuse is a significant public health issue globally but it is a hidden problem that is under-reported. In the UK, Identification and Referral to Improve Safety is a primary care-based intervention that has been found to increase referral rates of abused women to support and safety services. This paper reports on the findings of an evaluation study of two sites in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study with a case study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  In line with case study design, the entire evaluation study employed multiple data collection methods. We report on the qualitative interviews with women referred through the programme. The aim was to elicit their experiences of the three aspects of the intervention: identification; referral; safety. Data collection took place March 2016.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten women took part. Eight had exited the abusive relationship but two remained with the partner who had perpetrated the abuse. Women were overwhelmingly positive about the programme and irrespective of whether they had remained or exited the relationship all reported perceptions of increased safety and improved health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses have an important role to play in identifying domestic violence and abuse and in referral and safety planning. As part of a portfolio of domestic violence and abuse interventions, those that empower women to take control of their safety (such as Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) are important.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5237-6777
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bradbury-Jones
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.|Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, B4 6NH, UK.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061214:Patient Safety; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D006113:United Kingdom; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: abuse; case study; domestic violence; identification; intimate partner violence; nursing; qualitative; referral; safety