THE PHYSICIAN'S GUIDE TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND ABUSE:

A Reference for Health Care Professionals

"...an invaluable guide for medical practitioners, public health professionals, and other experts in addressing this pervasive threat to the physical and emotional health of millions of Americans.  From abuse screening methods to legal protections that could shield individuals from future violence, this is a must read."

Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP

Executive Director, APHA

Released in April 2006, this updated and expanded version of The Physician's Guide (originally published in 1995), includes a chapter, Before It Occurs: Primary Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse, co-authored by Prevention Institute and Corinne Graffunder, Branch Chief of Program Dissemination at the Division of Violence Prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on the primary prevention of intimate partner violence and abuse - what clinicians need to know (and do) to prevent intimate partner violence from occurring in the first place.

In an effort to create environments in which we never need to question whether people are in danger in their relationships, Before It Occurs: Primary Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse, presents a framework for initiating meaningful health sector involvement in the primary prevention of intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA).  Prevention is a systematic process that promotes safe, healthy environments and behaviors, reducing the likelihood or frequency of an incident, injury, or condition occurring.  Ideally prevention is primary, addressing problems before they occur rather than waiting to intervene after incidents occur.  To date, most organized and funded efforts have been focused on secondary and tertiary responses to IPVA.  While efforts at all three levels of prevention – primary, secondary, and tertiary – are important and can be mutually supportive and reinforcing, focusing on primary prevention is the only way to eliminate the violence.  Although it can be difficult to garner support for primary prevention programs, health care professionals can use their tremendous influence and credibility as clinicians, as well as powerful voices in their own institutions, associations, and communities to more systematically prevent IPVA before the violence occurs.   Learn more about the pivotal role health care professionals can play in fostering primary prevention efforts.  Read the summary(PDF) or download the full chapter(PDF)!

We urge you to ORDER The Physician’s Guide in its entirety, available through Volcano Press (bulk purchase discounts available to institutions - hospitals, training facilities, etc)!  Our chapter represents a mere preview of the extensive information provided by the book.

Additional Resources

Health After Trauma Newsletter/eZine

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