"It Happens to Clinicians Too": an Australian Prevalence Study of Intimate Partner and Family Violence Against Health Professionals

Overview

Journal BMC Womens Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2018 Jun 27

PMID 29940948

Citations 17

Authors

Elizabeth McLindon

Cathy Humphreys

Kelsey Hegarty

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence of intimate partner and family violence amongst a population of Australian female nurses, doctors and allied health professionals.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey in a large Australian tertiary maternity hospital with 471 participating female health professionals (45.0% response rate). The primary outcome measures were 12 month and lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence (Composite Abuse Scale) and family violence.

Results: In the last 12 months, one in ten (43, 11.5%) participants reported intimate partner violence: 4.2% (16) combined physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse; 6.7% (25) emotional abuse and/or harassment; 5.1% (22) were afraid of their partner; and 1.7% (7) had been raped by their partner. Since the age of sixteen, one third (125, 29.7%) of participants reported intimate partner violence: 18.3% (77) had experienced combined physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse; 8.1% (34) emotional abuse and/or harassment; 25.6% (111) had been afraid of their partner; and 12.1% (51) had been raped by their partner. Overall, 45.2% (212) of participants reported violence by a partner and/or family member during their lifetime, with 12.8% (60) reporting both.

Conclusion: Intimate partner and family violence may be common traumas in the lives of female health professionals, and this should be considered in health workplace policies and protocols, as health professionals are increasingly urged to work with patients who have experienced intimate partner and family violence. Implications include the need for workplace manager training, special leave provision, counselling services and other resources for staff.

Citing Articles

Domestic, family and sexual violence polyvictimisation and health experiences of Australian nurses, midwives and carers: a cross-sectional study.

McLindon E, Spiteri-Staines A, Hegarty K BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):2290.

PMID: 39174914 PMC: 11342665. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19680-7.

"Counteract the gaslighting" - a thematic analysis of open-ended responses about what women survivors of intimate partner sexual violence need from service providers.

Peeren S, McLindon E, Tarzia L BMC Womens Health. 2024; 24(1):110.

PMID: 38336660 PMC: 10858602. DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-02943-1.

The Global Landscape of Domestic Violence against Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review.

Kunasagran P, Mokti K, Ibrahim M, Syed Abdul Rahim S, Robinson F, Muyou A Korean J Fam Med. 2023; 45(1):3-11.

PMID: 37848369 PMC: 10822725. DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.23.0084.

Coping strategies adopted by frontline nurses in dealing with COVID-19 patients in a developing country during the pandemic: A qualitative study.

Rony M, Rahman M, Saki M, Parvin M, Alamgir H Nurs Open. 2023; 10(6):3646-3658.

PMID: 36719818 PMC: 10170892. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.1614.

Association between intimate partner psychological violence and psychological distress among nurses: The role of personality traits and social support.

Huang W, Zhang F, Sun X, Yu Q, Huang J, Su Y Front Psychol. 2023; 13:1038428.

PMID: 36710775 PMC: 9878691. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1038428.

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