What Do EMS Personnel Think About Domestic Violence? An Exploration of Attitudes & Experiences After Participation in Training
INTRODUCTION:
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 prehospital 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.
OBJECTIVES:
Given
the importance of the interaction of field EMS personnel have with victims of
domestic violence, the goal of this study is to explore attitudes about and
experiences of EMS personnel on the issue of domestic violence after completing
a training on domestic violence.
METHODS:
Participants
were recruited by researchers contacting multiple EMS agencies. Data were
gathered using a survey attached to an online domestic violence training for
field EMS personnel (EMTs and paramedics) circulated in a large southern state.
Participants were able to obtain continuing education credits for completing
the online modules.
RESULTS:
A total
of 403 respondents completed the survey. 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.
CONCLUSIONS:
Implications
of the data are discussed suggesting 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 EMS 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 EMS
response to victims.
- 1University of Windsor, School of Social Work, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada. Electronic address: donnelly@uwindsor.ca.
- 2Institute for Family Violence Studies, College of Social Work, Florida State University, 296 Champions Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570, USA. Electronic address: koehme@fsu.edu.
- 3University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville, 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA. Electronic address: Rebecca.Melvin@jax.ufl.edu.
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