Social Work - Research Publications

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End date: 2019 × Author: Hegarty, Kelsey × Author: McLindon, Elizabeth ×

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    Is a clinician's personal history of domestic violence associated with their clinical care of patients: a cross-sectional study
    McLindon, E ; Humphreys, C ; Hegarty, K (BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2019-08)
    OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether domestic violence (DV) impacts on health professionals' clinical care of DV survivor patients. DESIGN, SETTING: Descriptive, cross-sectional study at an Australian tertiary maternity hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 471 participating female health professionals (45.0% response rate). OUTCOME MEASURES: Using logistic and linear regression, we examined whether health professionals' exposure to lifetime DV was associated with their clinical care on specific measures of training, attitudes, identification and intervention. RESULTS: DV survivor health professionals report greater preparedness to intervene with survivor patients in a way that is consistent with ideal clinical care. This indicates that personal DV experience is not a barrier, and may be a facilitator, to clinical care of survivor patients. CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals are at the front line of identifying and responding to patients who have experienced DV. These findings provide evidence that survivor health professionals may be a strength to the healthcare organisations in which they work since among the participants in this study, they appear to be doing more of the work seen as better clinical care of survivor patients. We discuss the need for greater workplace supports aimed at promoting safety and recovery from violence and strengthening clinical practice with patients.
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    "It happens to clinicians too": an Australian prevalence study of intimate partner and family violence against health professionals
    McLindon, E ; Humphreys, C ; Hegarty, K (BMC, 2018-06-26)
    BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence of intimate partner and family violence amongst a population of Australian female nurses, doctors and allied health professionals. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey in a large Australian tertiary maternity hospital with 471 participating female health professionals (45.0% response rate). The primary outcome measures were 12 month and lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence (Composite Abuse Scale) and family violence. RESULTS: In the last 12 months, one in ten (43, 11.5%) participants reported intimate partner violence: 4.2% (16) combined physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse; 6.7% (25) emotional abuse and/or harassment; 5.1% (22) were afraid of their partner; and 1.7% (7) had been raped by their partner. Since the age of sixteen, one third (125, 29.7%) of participants reported intimate partner violence: 18.3% (77) had experienced combined physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse; 8.1% (34) emotional abuse and/or harassment; 25.6% (111) had been afraid of their partner; and 12.1% (51) had been raped by their partner. Overall, 45.2% (212) of participants reported violence by a partner and/or family member during their lifetime, with 12.8% (60) reporting both. CONCLUSION: Intimate partner and family violence may be common traumas in the lives of female health professionals, and this should be considered in health workplace policies and protocols, as health professionals are increasingly urged to work with patients who have experienced intimate partner and family violence. Implications include the need for workplace manager training, special leave provision, counselling services and other resources for staff.