Public health nurses' responses to domestic violence: A report from the enhanced domestic abuse intervention project

Public health nurses (PHNs) can play an important role in the detection of domestic violence. This study examines whether the introduction of a domest ic violence assessment protocol by public health nurses in a maternal and c hild health visiting program increases the identification and referral rate s of women experiencing domestic violence. Data collected from case files d uring the baseline year prior to the initiation of the protocol were compar ed to case file information after the protocol had been implemented. When t he protocol was used, there was a higher rate of identification, although t he difference was not statistically significant. Significantly more women, however, were provided with information about domestic violence resources a fter the protocol was in place, and significantly more women were referred to services in the second year after the protocol had been implemented. Thi s study provides support for the use of a domestic violence protocol to imp rove the public health nursing response to domestic violence.