What do EMS personnel think about domestic violence? An exploration of attitudes and experiences

18^th International Conference on Nursing & Healthcare

December 05-07, 2016 Dallas, USA

Karen Oehme J D, Elizabeth A Donnelly and Rebecca Melvin

Florida State University, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

In 2012, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) reaffirmed that domestic violence is a serious public health hazard that emergency medical services (EMS) personnel will encounter. Many victims of domestic violence may refuse transport to the hospital, making EMS pre-hospital field personnel, EMTs and paramedics, their only contact with healthcare providers. Despite these facts, the interaction of field EMS personnel and victims of domestic violence remains largely unexamined. Given the importance of the interaction of field EMS personnel have with victims of domestic violence, the goal of this study was to explore attitudes about and experiences of EMS personnel on the issue of domestic violence after completing a training on domestic violence. 71% of respondents indicated that they frequently encounter patients who disclose domestic violence; 45% believe that if a victim does not disclose abuse, there is little they can do to help; and from 32% to 43% reported assumptions and attitudes that indicate beliefs that victims are responsible for the abuse. Implications of the data suggest that EMS providers are aware that they frequently assist victims of domestic violence, yet many continue to endorse common myths and negative attitudes about victims. Core components of training that can educate medical personnel about the dynamics of domestic violence are described, and a new free online training for medical professionals on domestic violence is offered for use as part of ongoing education to enhance the medical response to victims.

Biography :

Email: koehme@fsu.edu