163467 Communicating empirically-based information about risks and protection strategies to survivors of intimate partner violence

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Daniel W. Webster, ScD, MPH , Center for Injury Research and Policy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Patricia Mahoney, MA , Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Jacquelyn Campbell, PhD, RN, FAAN , Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD
Susan Ghanbarpour, MA , Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Background: Many victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) are at risk for being seriously injured or even killed. Yet a study of women who had suffered near-lethal attacks by a current or former partner found that 40% of these IPV survivors reported that, prior to the near-lethal assault, they did not believe their partner was capable of killing them. Optimistic bias in perceived risk quell motivation for effective coping; whereas, recognition of the risk of being killed is a common spark for taking protective action. The Danger Assessment (DA) is an empirically-based tool for identifying IPV survivors at greatest risk of severe violence. Program: We will report on a standardized protocol developed for screening IPV survivors for future risk using the DA, effectively communicating those risks to survivors, and educating them about measures shown to reduce repeat IPV. The protocol is computer-driven and provides interviewer prompts and graphs based on survivor risks. The intervention is currently being tested with IPV survivors seeking assistance from a legal clinic and a temporary protective order from 1 of 2 selected courts in Maryland. It could also be used in many healthcare settings. Interviews conducted within a few days of the protocol reveal higher levels of perceived risk among survivors in the intervention group versus a comparison group of IPV survivors recruited from the same court sites prior to the intervention. Baseline and 6-month follow-up data on protective actions taken and re-assault experience will be presented in November.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe factors associated with IPV survivors taking protective actions 2. Assess the appropriateness of an intervention to enhance risk perception and encourage behaviors shown to reduce risk for re-assault for survivors of IPV. 3. Evaluate the effects of the intervention on attitudes and behaviors relevant to protective actions.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Violence Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Increasing Family Violence Prevention Efforts through Targeted Strategies for Children and Families
See more of: APHA-Family Violence Prevention Forum