Table 3.

Summary of Recommendations for Family Medicine Physicians and Other Primary Care providers When Assessing and Intervening with Male Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in Primary Care Settings, from Published Guidelines and Review Articles

Assessment
  • Assess for perpetration, victimization, or both present31

  • Assess for potential lethality and other potentially mandated reporting situations30,31,3336,39

  • Assess the impact of violence on health of perpetrator30,31,37

  • Assess the Impact of violence on health of victim and children30,31,34,35,37

  • Assess for readiness for change31,35

  • Assess for co-morbidities that may impact care, such as substance abuse and mental illness31,34,35,36

  • If providing care to both victim and perpetrator, consider possible risks and need to refer one to another provider31,34,35,36

Intervention
  • Provide meaningful information about the harmful impact of intimate partner violence and the need for stop the violence30,31,3335,3739

  • Contact appropriate authorities and victim if safety is a concern30,31,35,36,39

  • Refer to batterer intervention program or discuss with mental health specialist with expertise in intimate partner violence30,31,3335,3739

  • Address comorbid substance abuse and mental health issues31,3336

  • Avoid couples therapy30,33,34,3639

  • Consider need for temporary separation30,31 and other crisis-diffusing strategies30,31,38

  • Provide motivational interviewing35

  • Schedule regular follow-up30,31,33,34