Background: Minimal results are available detailing domestic violence outcomes. Objective: Develop baseline information for a group of abused women and controls across areas including social and economic characteristics, help-seeking behaviors, abuse characteristics, quality-of-life (SF-12), psychological symptom patterns (BSI), and community interactiveness (Wallin's), prior to a prospective follow-up phase. Methods: Consecutive adult English-speaking females in an urban emergency department were screened for recent domestic violence using the Abuse Assessment Screen during a convenience sample of four-hour time blocks. Women meeting the criteria for abuse as well as a random selection of controls were enrolled. After informed consent, women completed a self-report survey. Results: 67 abused women (study group) and 100 controls completed the baseline survey. Social and economic factors evaluated were similar between abused and non-abused women including presence of children and job status. Abused women scored significantly lower on all BSI and SF-12 psychological domains as compared to controls (p<0.05). On the Wallin's scale, abused women were less interactive in their communities (p<0.05). In the study group, 42% reported current abuse and 36% had been abused within one week; 12% had not been abused for more than 6 months. Further, 68% of the study group called police, 79% left their abuser at least once, and 35% sought help from medical personnel. Conclusion: Significant differences are present between abused and non-abused women for the entire BSI battery and all psychological elements on the SF-12. These instruments are useful to measure the effectiveness of a variety of interventions in future outcomes studies.
Learning Objectives: 1. Learn the characteristics associated with a group of recently abused women and how they differ from those of a group of control group. 2. Discuss the study instruments utilized to obtain data from study participants. 3. Recognize which parameters may be most useful in measuring future outcomes of domestic violence interventions
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Outcomes Research
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.