More support, knowledge and awareness are needed to prepare emergency department nurses to approach potential intimate partner violence victims

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence is a global health issue. In the emergency department, patients seek help for health problems that may be related to exposure to physical, psychological or sexual violence, or controlling behaviour from a current or former partner. Of the many victims that seek care in an emergency department, few are identified, especially among those whose chief complaint is not clearly related to recent physical abuse. Not having all the facts about a patient can jeopardise patient safety and delay treatment. The aim of this study was to describe experiences of caring for adults, subjected to intimate partner violence, from an emergency nurse perspective. Methods: A qualitative semi-structured interview study of nine emergency care specialist nurses was conducted using content analysis. Findings: Two categories emerged: ‘Subtle signs’ and ‘Not being enough’. The short encounters in emergency care do not allow for deep conversations. The informants highlighted the need for more knowledge about what and how to ask in that specific context. Some mentioned situations where the question had been avoided due to lack of time to handle the answer. The interviews revealed the importance of regular discussions to increase awareness of intimate partner violence and its prevalence among patients. Conclusions: The organisation plays an important role in putting the question about intimate partner violence on the daily agenda and giving time to emergency nurses and other professions for training and reflection.