Contemporary perspectives regarding domestic violence and abuse in primary care: Cross-sectional NHS patients survey

BACKGROUND: Primary care plays a key role in addressing domestic violence and abuse (DVA) globally. However, DVA remains underdiagnosed and inadequately addressed in primary care, necessitating a deeper understanding of patients' perspectives in the UK. OBJECTIVES: To explore patients' perceptions of their awareness of DVA signs and their attitudes towards using the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST)-short during routine primary care encounters. METHODS: An anonymous 29-item e-Survey, available in 18 languages and including information about DVA support services, was administered via the Qualtrics XM Platform(™) from March to October 2022. Eligible UK National Health Service patients aged 18+ were identified by GP practices in Northwest London and invited via SMS to participate. RESULTS: Data were collected from 6,967 NHS patients. The majority (78.0%) claimed awareness of the signs of DVA in adults and children, while about 22% were unaware or unsure of the signs of DVA. Nearly 85% reported insufficient public awareness about DVA. Around 70% recommended implementing the WAST-short screening tool during primary care encounters to raise awareness and support survivors. Over 50% viewed general practice as the optimal setting for identifying and referring survivors. CONCLUSION: Improved public education on DVA is needed, as a significant proportion of patients remain unaware or unsure of its signs, with the majority deeming public knowledge insufficient. Patients' strong support for using standardised screening tools like the WAST-short reflects their trust in healthcare providers to conduct sensitive assessments. Integrating these tools into routine practice could enhance DVA interventions. Most patients are aware of domestic violence and abuse (DVA), but many are unclear about its signs, highlighting the need for public education.NHS patients trust healthcare providers to conduct sensitive screenings with standardised tools like WAST-short.Incorporating these tools into routine practice could strengthen DVA interventions and support efforts. eng