SAFE QUESTIONS - OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO THE DETECTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Although domestic violence is an important public health problem in th is country, several barriers tend to hinder its detection by physician s. Physicians may lack knowledge about the subject, harbor attitudes t hat hinder detection or lack the necessary skills to address patients who are victims of domestic violence. The SAFE questions-which address the areas of safety, abuse, friends' and family's knowledge and emerg ency plans-can be used to identify affected patients. In addition, the se questions provide the physician with a logical framework for counse ling and intervention.