NEED FOR LAW-ENFORCEMENT IN CASES OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN A UNIVERSITY ED

The purpose of this study was to quantify the proportion of men and wo men seen in a university emergency department (ED) for treatment of in juries resulting from intimate partner violence (IPV) that require rep orts to law enforcement authorities, A total of 1,516 adult ED patient s were asked to complete a written survey instrument; 1,003 patients ( 66.2%) completed the survey Two percent of patients reported they pres ented to the ED for treatment of injuries resulting from IPV, Three pe rcent reported IPV within the last year, and 10% reported that they ha d ever been physically abused by a partner, Six percent of respondents reported that they had ever been threatened with a gun or knife by a partner, 2% within the past year, Only the lifetime prevalence of IPV was significantly greater among female patients, 15% versus 6% (P < .0 01), Approximately 2% of our ED patients require law enforcement inter vention for IPV. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.