Screening for intimate partner violence after traumatic injury: A community-based participatory qualitative research study

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common among injured patients and adversely impacts health. We sought to better understand acceptability and appropriateness of screening for IPV following traumatic injury. 

Methods: We conducted a qualitative, community-based participatory research study in partnership with a community-based organization focused on supporting survivors of IPV. We conducted semistructured interviews exploring attitudes and opinions about IPV screening after injury with English- and Spanish-speaking adults who were IPV survivors or who were admitted to a level 1 trauma center after traumatic injury. We developed a codebook based on the Health Equity Implementation Framework and analyzed data using thematic analysis. 

Results: We conducted 19 interviews. Participants included twelve IPV survivors, ten women, seven men, and two nonbinary participants. Three interviews were conducted in Spanish. Four themes emerged as follows: 1) participants with a history of IPV described major barriers to disclosure to clinicians; 2) despite these barriers, participants widely supported the practice of asking about IPV; 3) participants highlighted key tactics to improve the experience of inquiry, screening, and disclosure after traumatic injury; and 4) participants largely did not mind the screening questions commonly used to screen patients with traumatic injuries, but identified key gaps. 

Conclusions: In-hospital screening for IPV among patients with traumatic injury was generally acceptable to study the participants. However, the manner in which the screening is conducted is important to both survivors and participants without a history of IPV.