OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between graduate and continuing medical education (CME) training in spouse abuse and the knowledge of physicians toward victims of spouse abuse. METHOD: Physicians from four different specialities in a local general hospital (n=76, RR=50%) were surveyed to assess their attitudes and knowledge about of spouse abuse victims. Information was collected about the amount of course content in their graduate curricula and about the amount of CME training in spouse abuse. RESULTS: Overall, 21% had no course content on spouse abuse, and 80% had no CME training about spouse abuse. In a multivariate model, graduate course content was a significant predictor of knowledge, controlling for age, gender, speciality, CME training in spouse abuse and knowing a victim of abuse personally. CME training was not a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: Education about spouse abuse may be most effective when performed during the course of medical school and residency programs. CME training programs may need to be re-vamped to increase their effectiveness in increasing knowledge about spouse abuse.
Learning Objectives: Session participants will learn how domestic violence training in medical school and afterwards can affect physician attitudes and behaviors towards survivors of domestic violence
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Training
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.