Brief Emergency Department Intervention to Reduce Teen Dating Violence

Investigators evaluated the effectiveness of the SafERteens intervention for reducing dating violence among adolescents presenting to an emergency department (ED). The 35-minute bedside intervention involves goal setting, feedback, decision-balancing exercises, and role-playing scenarios. In the SafERteens study, 726 patients aged 14 to 18 years with a history of aggression or violence and alcohol use in the previous year were randomized to one of three groups: intervention delivered by computer, intervention delivered by a therapist with computer assistance, or a standard brochure about resources (control). Participants were followed up with self-assessments 3, 6, and 12 months after the ED visit.

This secondary analysis included 397 adoles…