Violence against women is a major public health threat that carries significant consequences for women's health. Moreover, women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault (SA) are more likely than non-abused women to seek certain forms of health services, such as for sexually transmitted infections, chronic pain and illnesses, depression and/or pregnancy-related concerns. As a result, the health sector is an ideal setting to identify and support survivors. The U.S. Institute of Medicine has identified the health care system, including the public health infrastructure, as key for identification of and support for survivors of violence, as well as for violence prevention. While some evidence-based models exist, no current national consensus has been reached on scalable best practices in screening and brief counseling for IPV/SA.
This multi-level intervention includes integrating into the clinic setting IPV/SA screening, universal education, trauma informed counseling, warm referrals (e.g. provider/staff contact advocacy program with survivor) to local IPV/SA advocacy agencies, and access to the evidence-based myPlan safety decision aid app. The evaluation, using a cluster randomized trial design, will measure longitudinal outcomes (over 6 months) of patient self-efficacy, health and safety outcomes, as well as participant and provider perceptions of the intervention and clinic level changes in primary and reproductive health clinics in four states (Arizona, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) to achieve the following aims:
Aim 1. Evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based screening, universal education and trauma-informed counseling with tailored safety action plan and referrals to partner IPV/SA programs compared to standard practice, on survivor health and safety outcomes over a cumulative period of six months.
Aim 2. Examine longitudinal changes in clinic-level screening, universal education, trauma informed counseling, safety action plans and referrals to on-site and/or partner IPV/SA programs and improved standards for documentation through the electronic health record (EHR) and continuous quality measurement and reporting.
