“I just keep my antennae out” - How primary care physicians (PCPs) respond to intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural communities

McCall-Hosenfeld, Jennifer S.

Friday, March 30, 2012: 3:40 PM-5:00 PM

Pacific A (San Francisco Marriott Marquis)

Speaker:
Jennifer S. McCall-Hosenfeld, MD, MSc, Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Authors:
Carol S. Weisman, PhD, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine
Cynthia H. Chuang, MD, MSc, Penn State Hershey Medical Center

PDF file

Presentation Format:
Scientific Program Report

Learning Objectives:

Describe the challenges of identifying IPV in rural primary healthcare settings, as described by rural PCPs
Recognize the perception of rural PCPs regarding the scope, prevalence and severity of IPV as a health problem
Describe possible solutions to overcoming the health-related problems associated with IPV in rural communities, as identified by rural PCPs

Description:
In rural communities, limited health services, poverty and social isolation compromise healthcare access, producing unique challenges for healthcare providers caring for women with IPV. We used qualitative research methods to assess the opinions of primary care physicians (PCPs) caring for rural women with IPV. Themes focused on (1) IPV identification, (2) the scope and severity of IPV as a health problem, (3) PCP’s response to IPV, and (4) barriers to optimized IPV care. Results are presented in this report.