New Survey Findings: Californians See a Role for Doctors, Nurses in Preventing Domestic Violence
Poll shows broad support for new federal policy requiring providers to screen for domestic violence during women’s preventive health visits
San Francisco, CA (October 29, 2013) — Blue Shield of California Foundation released today the results of a statewide survey on Californians’ attitudes toward domestic violence. Building upon a 2012 survey, the results show that individuals across the state recognize the important connection between health care and domestic violence.
Historically, doctors and nurses have played a limited role in preventing abuse, and the burden of addressing domestic violence at the local level has fallen largely to law enforcement and domestic violence shelters. That is starting to change.
The majority of Californians are in favor of doctors and nurses playing a greater role in preventing and responding to domestic violence. And while poll results showed that most Californians are unsure where to seek help should domestic violence occur, nearly everyone reported doctors as one of the most trusted sources for support – second only to domestic violence shelter employees.
Californians also overwhelmingly approve of measures to help train doctors and nurses to identify and respond to victims of abuse. They also support a new federal policy under the Affordable Care Act that will require healthcare providers to screen for domestic violence during women’s preventive health visits.
“This research tells us that doctors and nurses could be key actors in addressing and preventing domestic violence in our state,” said Peter Long, Ph.D., president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Foundation. “Today, we have an incredible opportunity to address this epidemic by creating new access points and enlisting new allies, especially within the healthcare system.”
The poll, conducted by Tulchin Research for Blue Shield of California Foundation, surveyed 800 adults statewide on their beliefs and attitudes about domestic violence during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October).
Highlights from the poll include:
- Among types of people most trusted to help with domestic abuse: domestic violence shelter workers (85 percent) and doctors (83 percent) are seen as most trustworthy.
- Three-quarters (75 percent) have never been asked by their healthcare provider about threats from their partner or spouse despite a strong majority of adults in California (60 percent) who report having a family doctor they would feel comfortable discussing personal domestic violence concerns with.
- 81 percent support a different approach for dealing with domestic violence, one in which doctors and nurses screen patients for signs of abuse occurring in the home.
- 91 percent agree that domestic violence victims can be just as afraid of going to the authorities as they are of facing their abuser.
There is growing evidence that domestic violence is not just a family or criminal issue, but a public health crisis. Domestic violence inflicts psychological, physical, and emotional damage that can lead to chronic health conditions, mental health issues, and suicide. Economic costs are also high, as thousands of victims end up in emergency rooms, drop out of school, or lose their jobs. It has also been found that witnessing family violence as a child can stunt emotional and intellectual growth and have severe health consequences later in life.
“Law enforcement and domestic violence shelters have played an essential role in responding to survivors and their families, but these solutions alone won’t end domestic violence in California,” said Bess Bendet, director of Blue Shield Against Violence. “We have to develop new resources and partnerships that effectively expand intervention and prevention efforts in order to make real progress on this issue.”
Full poll results can be found here.
About the survey: From October 8 – 15, 2013, Tulchin Research conducted a random-digit-dial telephone survey of 800 adults in California of least 18 years of age. Calls were made by live, professional interviewers and were conducted in both English and Spanish. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 3.46 percentage points.
###
ABOUT BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION
Blue Shield of California Foundation is one of the state’s largest and most trusted grantmaking organizations. Our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians, particularly the underserved, by making health care accessible, effective, and affordable, and by ending domestic violence. For more information visit: www.blueshieldcafoundation.org. Blue Shield of California Foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Shield Association.