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Women exposed to intimate partner violence: expectations and experiences when they encounter health care professionals: a meta-analysis of qualitative studies.
Arch Intern Med. 2006 Jan 09; 166(1):22-37.AI

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The appropriate response of health care professionals to intimate partner violence is still a matter of debate. This article reports a meta-analysis of qualitative studies that answers 2 questions: (1) How do women with histories of intimate partner violence perceive the responses of health care professionals? and (2) How do women with histories of intimate partner violence want their health care providers to respond to disclosures of abuse?

METHODS

Multiple databases were searched from their start to July 1, 2004. Searches were complemented with citation tracking and contact with researchers. Inclusion criteria included a qualitative design, women 15 years or older with experience of intimate partner violence, and English language. Two reviewers independently applied criteria and extracted data. Findings from the primary studies were combined using a qualitative meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine articles reporting 25 studies (847 participants) were included. The emerging constructs were largely consistent across studies and did not vary by study quality. We ordered constructs by the temporal structure of consultations with health care professionals: before the abuse is discussed, at disclosure, and the immediate and further responses of the health care professional. Key constructs included a wish from women for responses from health care professionals that were nonjudgmental, nondirective, and individually tailored, with an appreciation of the complexity of partner violence. Repeated inquiry about partner violence was seen as appropriate by women who were at later stages of an abusive relationship.

CONCLUSION

Women's perceptions of appropriate and inappropriate responses partly depended on the context of the consultation, their own readiness to address the issue, and the nature of the relationship between the woman and the health care professional.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Feder GS
Centre for Health Sciences, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, London South Bank University, London, England. g.s.feder@qmul.ac.uk
Hutson M
No affiliation info available
Ramsay J
No affiliation info available
Taket AR
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAgedAttitude of Health PersonnelBattered WomenEpidemiologic StudiesFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPatient RightsPatient SatisfactionPhysician-Patient RelationsQualitative ResearchSpouse AbuseSurveys and Questionnaires

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

16401807

Citation

Feder, Gene S., et al. "Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: Expectations and Experiences when They Encounter Health Care Professionals: a Meta-analysis of Qualitative Studies." Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 166, no. 1, 2006, pp. 22-37.
Feder GS, Hutson M, Ramsay J, et al. Women exposed to intimate partner violence: expectations and experiences when they encounter health care professionals: a meta-analysis of qualitative studies. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(1):22-37.
Feder, G. S., Hutson, M., Ramsay, J., & Taket, A. R. (2006). Women exposed to intimate partner violence: expectations and experiences when they encounter health care professionals: a meta-analysis of qualitative studies. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(1), 22-37.
Feder GS, et al. Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: Expectations and Experiences when They Encounter Health Care Professionals: a Meta-analysis of Qualitative Studies. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Jan 9;166(1):22-37. PubMed PMID: 16401807.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Women exposed to intimate partner violence: expectations and experiences when they encounter health care professionals: a meta-analysis of qualitative studies. AU - Feder,Gene S, AU - Hutson,Madeleine, AU - Ramsay,Jean, AU - Taket,Ann R, PY - 2006/1/13/pubmed PY - 2006/2/8/medline PY - 2006/1/13/entrez SP - 22 EP - 37 JF - Archives of internal medicine JO - Arch Intern Med VL - 166 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: The appropriate response of health care professionals to intimate partner violence is still a matter of debate. This article reports a meta-analysis of qualitative studies that answers 2 questions: (1) How do women with histories of intimate partner violence perceive the responses of health care professionals? and (2) How do women with histories of intimate partner violence want their health care providers to respond to disclosures of abuse? METHODS: Multiple databases were searched from their start to July 1, 2004. Searches were complemented with citation tracking and contact with researchers. Inclusion criteria included a qualitative design, women 15 years or older with experience of intimate partner violence, and English language. Two reviewers independently applied criteria and extracted data. Findings from the primary studies were combined using a qualitative meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-nine articles reporting 25 studies (847 participants) were included. The emerging constructs were largely consistent across studies and did not vary by study quality. We ordered constructs by the temporal structure of consultations with health care professionals: before the abuse is discussed, at disclosure, and the immediate and further responses of the health care professional. Key constructs included a wish from women for responses from health care professionals that were nonjudgmental, nondirective, and individually tailored, with an appreciation of the complexity of partner violence. Repeated inquiry about partner violence was seen as appropriate by women who were at later stages of an abusive relationship. CONCLUSION: Women's perceptions of appropriate and inappropriate responses partly depended on the context of the consultation, their own readiness to address the issue, and the nature of the relationship between the woman and the health care professional. SN - 0003-9926 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/16401807/Women_exposed_to_intimate_partner_violence:_expectations_and_experiences_when_they_encounter_health_care_professionals:_a_meta_analysis_of_qualitative_studies_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -