Does It Matter Whether We Ask About Intimate Partner Violence?

Although some U.S. medical organizations recommend routine screening for intimate partner violence (IPV), the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force did not find sufficient evidence that screening is associated with lower rates of repeated violence (JW Mar 26 2004). In a randomized controlled Canadian study, investigators assessed whether IPV screening affected recurrence of violence toward women who presented for primary or emergency care. The screening group (2700 women) completed validated abuse questionnaires before their initial visits with clinicians. The comparison group (nonscreening; 2900 women) completed the questionnaires after their visits. Study clinicians (trained in responding to IPV) were informed of positive results before see…