Intimate-Partner Violence: A Retrospective Review of Records in Primary Care Settings

PURPOSE: The goals of this study were (a) to gather data regarding the documentation of disclosure of battering in primary care settings and (b) to collect demographic data, including ethnicity, of women who disclose intimate partner violence (IPV) in primary care settings in Hawaii. DATA SOURCES: We conducted a retrospective chart review focusing on documentation of IPV in four community health centers on Oahu. The review included 337 charts. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. CONCLUSIONS: Of the 337 records reviewed, IPV was reported in 31 (9.1%). Documentation of reported IPV differed among members of the various ethnic groups seen in the clinics. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Practitioners should develop a common area for documenting reports of IPV. The level and depth of resources available within the setting and the community may affect providers' willingness to screen for IPV.