RCHC Community Project Abstracts

Enhancing Domestic Violence Screening and Outreach at Santiam Medical Associates by Addressing Barriers Faced by Battered Woman in Rural Communities
Date of project: 4/27/2009

This project aims to evaluate the preparedness of Santiam Medical Associates to recognize and refer victims of domestic violence (DV) to resources. Another key objective was to illuminate the myriad of barriers faced by victims of DV in rural communities and the ways in which providers can become better equipped to assist these victims. It is thought that 1 in 10 women in Oregon between the ages of 20-55 (more than 85,000 women), have been physically or sexually assaulted by a current or former intimate partner in the last five years.1 Nearly one-third of American women (31%) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.2 Women in rural communities face specific challenges to accessing resources. Rural physicians can play an integral role in improving the lives of their battered patients if they are aware of the problem and provide a safe and confidential environment for women to disclose. During my rotation, I administered an anonymous survey to the employees of the Santiam Family Medical office to assess their awareness of DV, preparedness to ask about abuse, whether they felt equipped to refer patients to appropriate resources and their thoughts on barriers women face while seeking safety from abuse in Stayton. Based on the results of the survey, I collaborated with a non-profit domestic violence organization to develop a training workshop for the staff on addressing DV in a medical setting. In addition, I was able to provide prevention and education materials on DV for the physicians and staff to distribute to patients in need of information and community resources.

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