Interventions that help victims of domestic violence - A qualitative analysis of physicians' experiences

BACKGROUND The barriers physicians face when providing care to victims of d omestic violence are well detailed in the literature, but few studies provi de insight into how physicians overcome these barriers. Our goal was to des cribe the domestic violence interventions used by physicians who are commit ted to providing quality health care to battered women. METHODS We conducted 6 focus groups with 45 San Francisco Bay Area physicia ns who had intervened with victims of domestic violence. The sessions were audiotaped and transcribed. We constructed, through constant comparison, a template of open codes to identify themes that emerged from the data. RESULTS Our analysis revealed that physicians viewed validation tie, provid ing messages to the patients that they are worth caring about) as the found ation of intervention. Other interventions included labeling the abuse as a buse; listening and being nonjudgmental; documenting, referring, and safety planning; using a team approach; and prioritizing domestic violence in the health care environment. Physicians described a range of rewards for inter vening with victims, from seeing a patient change her entire life to subtle shifts in the way a woman thinks of her relationship and herself. CONCLUSIONS Our study offers insight into how physicians can intervene to h elp victims of domestic violence. Recent interview and survey studies of ba ttered women support the physician interventions described.