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Screening Male Primary Care Patients for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

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Abstract

Background

Primary prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) at the level of the primary care provider is unexplored.

Objective

We sought to identify whether men disclose current IPV perpetration when asked by a primary care provider.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Participants

Consecutive male patients of 6 providers in public health, university, and VA hospital clinics.

Measurements

Men were screened for IPV perpetration during routine visits, then given a Conflict Tactics Scale questionnaire (CTS2) to complete and mail back anonymously.

Results

One hundred twenty-eight men were screened; 46 (36%) returned CTS2 questionnaires. Twenty-three and 2 men disclosed past and current perpetration to providers, respectively. Providers assessed lethality/safety issues in 58% of those reporting a perpetration history (including both with current perpetration), responded with direct counseling to 63% (including both with current perpetration), and referred 17% for services related to the screening (including 1 with current perpetration). Nine and 26 men reported current, CTS2-assessed physical and psychological aggression of a partner, respectively.

Conclusions

Men appear to underreport current IPV perpetration in face-to-face primary care encounters when compared to other methods of reporting. Men may more readily report past IPV perpetration in face-to-face encounters.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Institute for Safe Families for their institutional support of this project. Dr. Holmes was supported by a Research Career Development award from the Health Services Research & Development Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Contributors

Jeffrey Jaeger initiated the project, analyzed the data, and helped to write the paper. Darren Spielman contributed to study design, data analysis, and helped to write the paper. Peter Cronholm contributed to study design and helped to write the paper. Sam Applebaum helped to write the paper. William Holmes contributed to data analysis and helped to write the paper.

Conflict of Interest

None disclosed.

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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey R. Jaeger MD.

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Jaeger, J.R., Spielman, D., Cronholm, P.F. et al. Screening Male Primary Care Patients for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration. J GEN INTERN MED 23, 1152–1156 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-008-0634-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-008-0634-9

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