Domestic Violence Awareness in a Medical School Class
Domestic Violence Awareness in a Medical School Class
Background. Previous studies have examined short-term effectiveness of domestic violence instruction. We studied the long-term effectiveness (LTE) and long-term retention (LTR) of formal instruction about domestic violence.
Methods. A general knowledge survey on domestic violence was given before, 1 month after, and 2 years after 3 hours of instruction to medical students. Good LTE was defined as significant improvement in responses between the first and third surveys. Good LTR was defined as lack of a significant decrease in results between the second and third surveys.
Results. Two years after the instruction, 104 of 148 (70%) participated. Knowledge of rates of domestic violence against women showed neither good LTE nor good LTR. Responses showed good LTE and LTR concerning domestic violence incidence among men, ethnic and socioeconomic groups being equally represented, victims not being personally responsible for the abuse, and physicians not being required to report domestic violence in the survey state. Responses showed poor LTR and LTE regarding rates of domestic violence in women and abused persons being unable to simply leave their situation.
Conclusions. Some improvement in domestic violence awareness was seen 2 years after instruction. However, some information was not retained. Domestic violence instruction should be reemphasized throughout medical school.
Domestic violence has become a national epidemic. Even though physicians may be exposed to situations in which it occurs, formal education or training about domestic violence is rare for medical students, residents, or practicing physicians. Domestic violence is not addressed in a comprehensive, well-contemplated manner. The Association of American Medical Colleges held a consensus conference on family violence education for medical students in 1995. One conclusion was that medical schools need to improve teaching about family violence so that graduates can help contain this growing national problem. Physicians are often the first lines of defense in cases of domestic violence.
This is important in various medical settings, since many patients seek medical attention only in the emergency department. Medical school faculty in many fields are well-suited as instructors, because victims of domestic violence may be seen in a variety of settings. However, recent surveys of university medical students and faculty indicate that they are often victims of domestic violence themselves.
Our study is the third part of a series of surveys given to a medical school class. The class was first offered a survey on domestic violence and given the Index of Spouse Abuse questionnaire to determine their own baseline levels of abuse and knowledge before instruction. To learn whether quantifiable differences in awareness about domestic violence resulted after formal instruction, we sought to survey the same first-year medical school class 1 month and now 2 years after the initial 3-hour instruction. Previous studies have looked at short-term retention of such information, but little has been written about the effects on a longer-term basis.
This study was done to determine retained knowledge about domestic violence among medical students 2 years after 3 hours of instruction about domestic violence. The null hypothesis was that levels of knowledge would remain nearly equal 2 years after instruction compared with 1 month after instruction.
Background. Previous studies have examined short-term effectiveness of domestic violence instruction. We studied the long-term effectiveness (LTE) and long-term retention (LTR) of formal instruction about domestic violence.
Methods. A general knowledge survey on domestic violence was given before, 1 month after, and 2 years after 3 hours of instruction to medical students. Good LTE was defined as significant improvement in responses between the first and third surveys. Good LTR was defined as lack of a significant decrease in results between the second and third surveys.
Results. Two years after the instruction, 104 of 148 (70%) participated. Knowledge of rates of domestic violence against women showed neither good LTE nor good LTR. Responses showed good LTE and LTR concerning domestic violence incidence among men, ethnic and socioeconomic groups being equally represented, victims not being personally responsible for the abuse, and physicians not being required to report domestic violence in the survey state. Responses showed poor LTR and LTE regarding rates of domestic violence in women and abused persons being unable to simply leave their situation.
Conclusions. Some improvement in domestic violence awareness was seen 2 years after instruction. However, some information was not retained. Domestic violence instruction should be reemphasized throughout medical school.
Domestic violence has become a national epidemic. Even though physicians may be exposed to situations in which it occurs, formal education or training about domestic violence is rare for medical students, residents, or practicing physicians. Domestic violence is not addressed in a comprehensive, well-contemplated manner. The Association of American Medical Colleges held a consensus conference on family violence education for medical students in 1995. One conclusion was that medical schools need to improve teaching about family violence so that graduates can help contain this growing national problem. Physicians are often the first lines of defense in cases of domestic violence.
This is important in various medical settings, since many patients seek medical attention only in the emergency department. Medical school faculty in many fields are well-suited as instructors, because victims of domestic violence may be seen in a variety of settings. However, recent surveys of university medical students and faculty indicate that they are often victims of domestic violence themselves.
Our study is the third part of a series of surveys given to a medical school class. The class was first offered a survey on domestic violence and given the Index of Spouse Abuse questionnaire to determine their own baseline levels of abuse and knowledge before instruction. To learn whether quantifiable differences in awareness about domestic violence resulted after formal instruction, we sought to survey the same first-year medical school class 1 month and now 2 years after the initial 3-hour instruction. Previous studies have looked at short-term retention of such information, but little has been written about the effects on a longer-term basis.
This study was done to determine retained knowledge about domestic violence among medical students 2 years after 3 hours of instruction about domestic violence. The null hypothesis was that levels of knowledge would remain nearly equal 2 years after instruction compared with 1 month after instruction.
