Domestic violence training program for residents

Domestic violence is occurring in epidemic proportions in the United States . Recent surveys have shown there is a need for educational programs for he alth care professionals. This report presents the results of a domestic vio lence workshop developed to increase knowledge and improve attitudes and sk ills in working with victims of domestic violence. The results of the works hop, measured by preintervention and postintervention attitude, knowledge. and skills surveys, are promising. There was a significant improvement in k nowledge, self-assessed skills, and attitudes after the workshop. Although the full magnitude of the changes was not sustained over time, there was st ill significant improvement after 6 months in knowledge and attitude. Rates of detection and documentation did not change. Future educational programs will need to address maintaining routine screening for domestic violence i n the primary care setting and to highlight more clearly the role of health care professionals in the detection and treatment of domestic violence.