The link between violence and health
Intimate partner violence (IPV), also referred to as domestic violence, can have long lasting effects on the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
More prevalent for women in the U.S. than breast cancer and diabetes combined, IPV can significantly impact health. More than just physical injuries, research shows that survivors of IPV are more likely to experience things like hypertension, depression, and unplanned pregnancy.
These long term health impacts cut across all lines of race, socio-economic status, gender, sexuality etc.
The solution
Providers need to know about the nature of abusive relationships, their impact on health and how to help.
Health professionals play a key role in supporting survivor health and safety. Studies show that when health providers talk to their patients about IPV, survivors are safer and healthier.
Evidence-based CUES intervention
Steps of the CUES intervention
Providers should talk with all patients about the elements of healthy and unhealthy relationships, the health effects of violence, health promotion strategies, and resources. CUES is an the evidence-based, trauma-informed intervention for addressing domestic violence in health settings, developed to help health professionals begin these important conversations with their patients.
Always see the patient alone for at least part of the visit and disclose your limits of confidentiality before discussing IPV.
Use our safety cards to talk with all patients about healthy and unhealthy relationships and the health effects of violence. Always give at least two cards to each patient so that they can share with friends and family.
Disclosure is not the goal, but they will happen. Make a warm referral to your DV partner and document the disclosure in order to follow up at the next visit. Share health promotion strategies to support patient health and safety while surviving abuse.
Health Delivery Systems
From hospitals, to clinics, to managed care organizations, all health delivery systems have the opportunity to prevent IPV. Small changes in health delivery systems have the greatest potential to improve the health and vitality of communities.
Learn more about what health centers, hospital based programs, and managed care programs can do to support a public health approach to preventing IPV and supporting survivors.
Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation serves the nation’s network of 17,000 federally-funded health centers that act as the nations safety net provider. 1 in 11 people nationwide rely on a HRSA funded health center. Given their enormous reach and overarching goals to promote health, HCs are uniquely qualified to promote violence prevention and response. For tools and resources to support HCs check out Futures’ Health Partners on IPV and Exploitation.
The Joint Commission recommends that hospitals and healthcare organizations have policies in place to identify and respond to IPV. Learn what hospital-based programs across the country are doing to respond.
Managed Care and Coordinated Care organizations are uniquely positioned to promote prevention and coordinated responses to IPV. Some of the most innovative and comprehensive programs are in managed care settings.
Resources
Policy recommendations to address violence
United States Preventative Services Task Force, the Institutes of Medicine, the Joint Commission and most major health associations agree: providers should be talking to their patients about IPV.
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