Recommended Citation
Adams B, Dindinger R. Improving intimate partner violence knowledge, patient screening rates, and resource accessibility for labor & delivery nurses. Quality Improvement podium presentation at Nursing Passion: Re-Igniting the Art & Science, Advocate Aurora Health Nursing & Research Conference 2022; November 9, 2022; virtual.
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Presentation Notes
Quality Improvement podium presentation at Nursing Passion: Re-Igniting the Art & Science, Advocate Aurora Health Nursing & Research Conference 2022; November 9, 2022; virtual.
Abstract
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during the perinatal period has been shown to have a multitude of negative physical, psychological, behavioral, and socioeconomic effects on both women and fetuses/newborns. Based on various scholarly estimates that 3-30% of women experience IPV during the perinatal period, routine screening of all obstetric patients for IPV by health care professionals is recommended by the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Nurses Association, among others.
Local problem: An assessment of a labor and delivery unit (L&D) at a large suburban hospital conducted in the fall of 2020 revealed a low completion rate (38.0%) of patient IPV screenings based on electronic health record (EHR) documentation during their department stay.
Method: Based on an extensive review of literature, a quality improvement project was conducted aimed at increasing IPV screening rates by increasing nurses’ IPV-related knowledge and comfort, and equipping them with tools and resources for patients who screen positive. A pre- and post-implementation survey was developed to gather information about nurses’ knowledge about IPV, comfort around IPV screening, and their access to IPV resources. L&D nurses (n = 47) participated in a virtual educational seminar and were supplied with IPV resource cards to give patients who were determined or suspected to be experiencing IPV. EHR-based IPV screening rates were monitored weekly.
Results/Conclusions: Post-intervention survey data showed an increase in IPV-related knowledge, comfort, and resource accessibility for L&D nurses. Ongoing weekly tracking of IPV screening completion rates has shown an increase from 39.4% to 71.7% on average pre- and post-intervention.
Implications for practice: These results suggest that an intervention to improve knowledge, comfort, and access to IPV resources is helpful and recommended for other perinatal health care settings to increase IPV screening rates. Future efforts may be needed to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of IPV screening.
Document Type
Oral/Podium Presentation
Affiliations
Aurora West Allis Medical Center