Biomaterial Database

Policy and procedures for domestic violence patients in Canadian emergency departments: a national survey. 1996

D Hotch, and A Grunfeld, and K Mackay, and L Ritch

OBJECTIVE To obtain information concerning the following: (1) the proportion of Canadian emergency departments with domestic violence intervention policies and procedures, (2) how hospitals identify and provide service to patients who have been abused, and (3) measures that have been problematic/helpful in implementing domestic violence protocols in emergency departments. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of a stratified random sample of 230 Canadian hospitals with emergency departments. METHODS Head nurses/nurse managers of the sample emergency departments in July and August 1994. METHODS Informational and attitudinal questionnaire items concerning domestic violence policies and procedures in the emergency department, including services provided to patients, staff roles, perceived support and effectiveness of the policy/procedures, how problem areas were addressed. RESULTS One hundred ninety-eight hospitals (198 of 230) returned questionnaires (86%). Of the 198, 39% (78) indicated there were policies and procedures concerning domestic violence for the emergency department. Large teaching hospitals were no more likely than smaller community hospitals to have policies or protocols in place. Screening all patients for domestic violence was reported by 26 hospitals (13% of all respondents, 33% of the group of hospitals with domestic violence policies). Referral services were provided by 61 hospitals (31% of all respondents; 78% of the subgroup with policies). On-site counseling was reported by 46 hospitals (23% of all respondents; 59% of the subgroup with policies). CONCLUSIONS The actual implementation of domestic violence policies and procedures is far from universal and may well be as low as 10% or 20%. Hospital and ED resources are needed to identify and support staff members who will implement educational activities and monitor compliance with guidelines for cases of domestic violence.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009718	Nurse Administrators	Nurses professionally qualified in administration.	Nurse Executives,Nurse Managers,Administrator, Nurse,Administrators, Nurse,Executive, Nurse,Executives, Nurse,Manager, Nurse,Managers, Nurse,Nurse Administrator,Nurse Executive,Nurse Manager
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002170	Canada	The largest country in North America, comprising 10 provinces and three territories. Its capital is Ottawa.
D003430	Cross-Sectional Studies	Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time.	Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D004636	Emergency Service, Hospital	Hospital department responsible for the administration and provision of immediate medical or surgical care to the emergency patient.	Emergency Outpatient Unit,Emergency Services Utilization,Hospital Emergency Room,Hospital Emergency Service,Hospital Emergency Services Utilization,Accident and Emergency Department,Emergency Departments,Emergency Hospital Service,Emergency Room,Emergency Units,Emergency Ward,Hospital Service Emergency,Service, Hospital Emergency,Department, Emergency,Departments, Emergency,Emergencies, Hospital Service,Emergency Department,Emergency Hospital Services,Emergency Outpatient Units,Emergency Room, Hospital,Emergency Rooms,Emergency Rooms, Hospital,Emergency Services, Hospital,Emergency Unit,Emergency Wards,Emergency, Hospital Service,Hospital Emergency Rooms,Hospital Emergency Services,Hospital Service Emergencies,Hospital Service, Emergency,Hospital Services, Emergency,Outpatient Unit, Emergency,Outpatient Units, Emergency,Room, Emergency,Room, Hospital Emergency,Rooms, Emergency,Rooms, Hospital Emergency,Service Emergencies, Hospital,Service Emergency, Hospital,Service, Emergency Hospital,Services Utilization, Emergency,Services Utilizations, Emergency,Services, Emergency Hospital,Services, Hospital Emergency,Unit, Emergency,Unit, Emergency Outpatient,Units, Emergency,Units, Emergency Outpatient,Utilization, Emergency Services,Ward, Emergency,Wards, Emergency
D006742	Hospital Bed Capacity	The number of beds which a hospital has been designed and constructed to contain. It may also refer to the number of beds set up and staffed for use.	Bed Capacity, Hospital,Bed Size, Hospital,Bed Capacities, Hospital,Bed Size,Bed Sizes,Bed Sizes, Hospital,Capacities, Hospital Bed,Capacity, Hospital Bed,Hospital Bed Size,Hospital Bed Sizes,Size, Bed,Size, Hospital Bed,Sizes, Bed,Sizes, Hospital Bed,Hospital Bed Capacities
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016134	Organizational Policy	A course or method of action selected, usually by an organization, institution, university, society, etc., from among alternatives to guide and determine present and future decisions and positions on matters of public interest or social concern. It does not include internal policy relating to organization and administration within the corporate body, for which ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION is available.	Institutional Policy,Institutional Policies,Organizational Policies,Policies, Institutional,Policies, Organizational,Policy, Institutional,Policy, Organizational
D017410	Practice Guidelines as Topic	Works about directions or principles presenting current or future rules of policy for assisting health care practitioners in patient care decisions regarding diagnosis, therapy, or related clinical circumstances. The guidelines may be developed by government agencies at any level, institutions, professional societies, governing boards, or by the convening of expert panels. The guidelines form a basis for the evaluation of all aspects of health care and delivery.	Clinical Guidelines as Topic,Best Practices,Best Practice
D017579	Domestic Violence	Deliberate, often repetitive physical, verbal, and/or other types of abuse by one or more members against others of a household.	Family Violence,Violence, Domestic,Violence, Family