Screening for IPV at Clinical Sites: Tools and Management Approaches
I cannot share a clinical experience of screening for intimate partner violence (IPV), but a person I know has been assessed for IPV. In particular, my family’s friend, a middle-aged married woman, was relatively recently screened for IPV. She never shared details about the used tool, but she has mentioned a significant worsening of her husband’s behavior after he began working from home due to the COVID-19’s spread. Notably, Alhusen et al. (2023) suggest the pandemic is associated with an increase in IPV prevalence. Overall, while I have not been evaluated for facing IPV, I know a person who has.
Choosing a Screening Tool for Future Practice: Tool, Scoring, and Questions
A screening tool I can utilize in my future practice is named the Women Abuse Screening Tool (WAST). Alhusen et al. (2023) mention this instrument among the ones that can be employed for assessing IPV. WAST is a self-report questionnaire consisting of 8 items. Scoring in WAST ranges from 0 to 16, with the higher number depicting a more heightened frequency of IPV.
The questions are meant to evaluate physical and emotional abuse caused by one’s partner and ask, for instance, whether disputes ever result in hitting, pushing, or kicking (Bologna et al., 2020). It is likely to be difficult for IPV victims to share their experiences, even with a professional, so WAST being self-administered can be beneficial (Alhusen et al., 2023; Bologna et al., 2020). WAST can be a useful tool for initial screening when a person is not yet comfortable speaking about being abused to provide a basis for further clinical assistance.
Community Resource for IPV Victims: Description, Services, and Website
A resource in my community for victims of IPV is the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). The organization can be described as one advocating for a change in factors that lead to IPV. I live in an area populated by moderately diverse residents who may need different approaches to overcome IPV. Therefore, NCADV seems more appropriate for my community due to its familiarity with working with various individuals. Among the services offered by NCADV are a hotline, webinars, including those on financial education, and projects for memorializing IPV victims (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, n.d.). NCADV does substantial work to help people who face IPV and to spread awareness regarding the problem.
References
Alhusen, J., McDonald, M., & Emery, B. (2023). Intimate partner violence: A clinical update. The Nurse Practitioner, 48(9), 40-46. Web.
Bologna, E. S., Panesar-Aguilar, S., McCraney, M., & Cale, C. (2020). Evaluating HIV risk factors and willingness to use prep among African American collegiate women. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 10, 1-12. Web.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (n.d.). About us. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Web.