This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Relevance for Medical Practitioners

Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association; Yank D. Coble, MD; A. Bradley Eisenbrey, MD, PhD; E. Harvey Estes, MD; Mitchell S. Karlan, MD; William R. Kennedy, MD; Patricia J. Numann, MD; William C. Scott, MD; W. Douglas Skelton, MD; Richard M. Steinhilber, MD; Jack P. Strong, MD; Christine G. Toevs; Henry N. Wagner, MD; Angela Browne, PhD

JAMA. 1992;267(23):3184-3189.

Abstract
Evidence collected over the last 20 years indicates that physical and sexual violence against women is an enormous problem. Much of this violence is perpetrated by women's intimate partners or in relationships that would presumably carry some protective aura (eg, father-daughter, boyfriend-girlfriend). This violence carries with it both short- and long-term sequelae for women and affects both their physical and psychological well-being. The high prevalence of violence against women brings them into regular contact with physicians; at least one in five women seen in emergency departments has symptoms relating to abuse. However, physicians frequently treat the injuries only symptomatically or fail to recognize the injuries as abuse. Even when recognized, physicians are often without resources to address the needs of abused women. This report documents the extent of violence against women and suggests paths that the physician community might take to address the needs of victims.

(JAMA. 1992;267:3184-3189)

Author Affiliations
Jacksonville, Fla, Vice-Chairman; Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich; Durham, NC, Chairman; Beverly Hills, Calif; Minneapolis, Minn; Syracuse, NY; Tucson, Ariz; Macon, Ga; Cleveland, Ohio; New Orleans, La; Greenville, NC, Medical Student Representative; Baltimore, Md; Boston, Mass, Author.

From the Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill.

Footnotes
This report was prepared for the Council on Scientific Affairs by Angela Browne, PhD, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts, Worcester.

This is a substantially shortened version of a report prepared for the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs. The recommendations in the report were adopted as policy by the House of Delegates at its December 1991, meeting. The text of the full report is available by writing to the Department of Mental Health, American Medical Association, 515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610.

This report is not intended to be construed or to serve as a standard of medical care. Standards of medical care are determined on the basis of all the facts and circumstances involved in an individual case and are subject to changes as scientific knowledge and technology advance and patterns of practice evolve. This report reflects the views of scientific literature as of August 1991.

Reprint requests to Group on Science and Technology, American Medical Association, 515 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610 (Roger Brown, PhD).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

What Victims of Domestic Violence Need from the Dental Profession
Nelms et al.
J Dent Educ 2009;73:490-498.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Domestic Violence: Its Impact on Children
Abell and Ey
CLIN PEDIATR 2008;47:413-415.
 

The Veterans Health Administration and Military Sexual Trauma
Kimerling et al.
AJPH 2007;97:2160-2166.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Screening for Intimate Partner Violence in Medical Settings
Phelan
Trauma Violence Abuse 2007;8:199-213.
ABSTRACT  

Interactions Between Victims of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women and the Health Care System: Policy and Practice Implications
Plichta
Trauma Violence Abuse 2007;8:226-239.
ABSTRACT  

Intimate partner violence prevalence and HIV risks among women receiving care in emergency departments: implications for IPV and HIV screening
El-Bassel et al.
Emerg. Med. J. 2007;24:255-259.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Accuracy of Five Domestic Violence Screening Questions With Nongraphic Language
Zink et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 2007;46:127-134.
ABSTRACT  

A Comparison of the Health and Mental Health Status of Homeless Mothers in Worcester, Mass: 1993 and 2003
Weinreb et al.
AJPH 2006;96:1444-1448.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Mothers' Comfort with Screening Questions about Sensitive Issues, Including Domestic Violence.
Zink et al.
J Am Board Fam Med 2006;19:358-367.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Changing dentists' knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding domestic violence through an interactive multimedia tutorial
Hsieh et al.
Journal of the American Dental Association 2006;137:596-603.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Domestic Violence: Prevalence and Detection in a Family Medicine Residency Clinic
Wenzel et al.
JAOA: Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 2004;104:233-239.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

What Are Providers' Reporting Requirements for Children Who Witness Domestic Violence?
Zink et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 2004;43:449-460.
ABSTRACT  

Medical Management of Intimate Partner Violence Considering the Stages of Change: Precontemplation and Contemplation
Zink et al.
Ann Fam Med 2004;2:231-239.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Incomplete and biased perpetrator coding among hospitalized assaults for women in the United States
Weiss et al.
Inj. Prev. 2004;10:119-121.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Gamma hydroxybutirate use for sexual assault
Varela et al.
Emerg. Med. J. 2004;21:255-256.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Domestic violence in emergency medicine patients
Boyle et al.
Emerg. Med. J. 2004;21:9-13.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Violence against women: integrating the evidence into clinical practice
MacMillan and Wathen
CMAJ 2003;169:570-571.
FULL TEXT  

Prevention of violence against women: Recommendation statement from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care
Wathen and MacMillan
CMAJ 2003;169:582-584.
FULL TEXT  

Screening for Intimate Partner Violence when Children are Present: The Victim's Perspective
Zink and Jacobson
J Interpers Violence 2003;18:872-890.
ABSTRACT  

Violence Against Women in Mexico: A Study of Abuse Before and During Pregnancy
Castro et al.
AJPH 2003;93:1110-1116.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

How Children Affect the Mother/Victim's Process in Intimate Partner Violence
Zink et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2003;157:587-592.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Interventions for Violence Against Women: Scientific Review
Wathen and MacMillan
JAMA 2003;289:589-600.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: Clinical Applications
Rhodes and Levinson
JAMA 2003;289:601-605.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Violent Victimization of Women and Men: Physical and Psychiatric Symptoms
Porcerelli et al.
J Am Board Fam Med 2003;16:32-39.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Best Practices: Detection of Intimate-Partner Violence Among Members of a Managed Behavioral Health Organization
Matevia et al.
Psychiatr. Serv. 2002;53:555-557.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Patterns of Assault in a Sample of Recent Rape Victims
Monnier et al.
Violence Against Women 2002;8:585-596.
ABSTRACT  

Intimate Partner Violence and Women of Color: A Call for Innovations
Lee et al.
AJPH 2002;92:530-534.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reported frequency of domestic violence: cross sectional survey of women attending general practice
Bradley et al.
BMJ 2002;324:271-271.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Policy Makers, Practitioners, Citizens: Perceptions of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994
Meyer-Emerick
Administration & Society 2002;33:629-663.
ABSTRACT  

Establishing a Nursing Presence within a Community-Based Domestic Violence Program
Lancaster
Home Health Care Management Practice 2001;13:396-402.
ABSTRACT  

Domestic Violence Screening Among Medical Residents: Is the Message Getting Through?
ZLOTNICK and POWRIE
J Interpers Violence 2001;16:841-845.
ABSTRACT  

Barriers to Domestic Violence Screening in the Pediatric Setting
Erickson et al.
Pediatrics 2001;108:98-102.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Physical Abuse of Women Before, During, and After Pregnancy
Martin et al.
JAMA 2001;285:1581-1584.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Dentists' attitudes and behaviors regarding domestic violence: The need for an effective response
LOVE et al.
Journal of the American Dental Association 2001;132:85-93.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Who Gets Screened During Pregnancy for Partner Violence?
Clark et al.
Arch Fam Med 2000;9:1093-1099.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Female Domestic Violence Victims: Perspectives on Emergency Care
Mayer
Nurs Sci Q 2000;13:340-346.
 

Factors Influencing Hesitancy in Medical Students to Assess History of Victimization in Patients
NAYAK
J Interpers Violence 2000;15:123-133.
ABSTRACT  

Knowledge and attitudes of primary care physicians regarding battered women. Comparison between specialists in family medicine and GPs
Kahan et al.
Fam Pract 2000;17:5-9.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Child Abuse and Domestic Violence in Families of Children Seen for Suspected Sexual Abuse
Bowen
CLIN PEDIATR 2000;39:33-40.
ABSTRACT  

Prevalence of sexualized violence among women: A population-based study in a primary healthcare district
Risberg et al.
Scand J Public Health 1999;27:247-253.
ABSTRACT  

Anxiety, physical abuse, and low birth weight
Grimstad et al.
Scand J Public Health 1999;27:296-300.
ABSTRACT  

Epidemiology of Facial Injury in Female Blunt Assault Trauma Cases
Greene et al.
Arch Facial Plast Surg 1999;1:288-291.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Screening and Intervention for Intimate Partner Abuse: Practices and Attitudes of Primary Care Physicians
Rodriguez et al.
JAMA 1999;282:468-474.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Domestic Violence Among AFDC Recipients: Implications for Welfare-to-Work Programs
Sable et al.
Affilia 1999;14:199-216.
ABSTRACT  

Malingered Dementia Associated With Battered Women's Syndrome
Gittelman
Psychosomatics 1998;39:449-452.
FULL TEXT  

Childhood Forced Sex and Cervical Dysplasia Among Women Prison Inmates
COKER et al.
Violence Against Women 1998;4:595-608.
ABSTRACT  

Response to Violence, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse in Patients Who Are Seen in Primary Care Settings
Everett et al.
Arch Fam Med 1998;7:209-209.
FULL TEXT  

The Role of the Pediatrician in Recognizing and Intervening on Behalf of Abused Women
Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect
Pediatrics 1998;101:1091-1092.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Guidelines for Managing Domestic Abuse When Male and Female Partners Are Patients of the Same Physician
Ferris et al.
JAMA 1997;278:851-857.
ABSTRACT  

Public Health Screening for Intimate Violence
SALTZMAN et al.
Violence Against Women 1997;3:319-331.
ABSTRACT  

Risk Factors for Violent Death of Women in the Home
Bailey et al.
Arch Intern Med 1997;157:777-782.
ABSTRACT  

Childhood Abuse and Chronic Pain: Observations from Clinical Practice
TRIEF
J Interpers Violence 1996;11:599-608.
ABSTRACT  

The Characteristics and Needs of Sheltered Homeless and Low-Income Housed Mothers
Bassuk et al.
JAMA 1996;276:640-646.
ABSTRACT  

Personal Exposure of Faculty and Medical Students to Family Violence
deLahunta and Tulsky
JAMA 1996;275:1903-1906.
ABSTRACT  

The Internist's Role in Addressing Violence: A Review of Current Recommendations and a Model for Intervention
Conway
Arch Intern Med 1996;156:951-956.
ABSTRACT  

Breaking the Silence: Battered Women's Perspectives on Medical Care
Rodriguez et al.
Arch Fam Med 1996;5:153-158.
ABSTRACT  

Domestic Violence Against Women
Donohoe
JAMA 1995;274:1507-1507.
ABSTRACT  

Laws Mandating Reporting of Domestic Violence: Do They Promote Patient Well-being?
Hyman et al.
JAMA 1995;273:1781-1787.
ABSTRACT  

Physicians and Domestic Violence: Can We Make a Difference?
McAfee
JAMA 1995;273:1790-1791.
ABSTRACT  

Domestic Violence: A Nursing Imperative
Butler
J Holist Nurs 1995;13:54-69.
ABSTRACT  

Men Who Batter: Profile From a Restraining Order Database
Isaac et al.
Arch Fam Med 1994;3:50-54.
ABSTRACT  

Gun Ownership as a Risk Factor for Homicide in the Home
Kellermann et al.
NEJM 1993;329:1084-1091.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reproductive Freedom and Violence against Women: Where Are the Intersections?
Heise
J Law Med Ethics 1993;21:206-216.
 

Firearm Injuries in Girls and Women: The Unaddressed Imperative
Sterling-Scott et al.
Arch Surg 1993;128:663-668.
ABSTRACT  

Indicators of Woman Abuse Based on a Chart Review at a Family Practice Center
Saunders et al.
Arch Fam Med 1993;2:537-543.
ABSTRACT  

Privacy Beliefs and the Violent Family: Extending the Ethical Argument for Physician Intervention
Jecker
JAMA 1993;269:776-780.
ABSTRACT  

American Women's Health Care: A Patchwork Quilt With Gaps
Clancy and Massion
JAMA 1992;268:1918-1920.
ABSTRACT  

The Hidden Epidemic: Physician Leadership Is Essential
Novello
Arch Fam Med 1992;1:29-31.
ABSTRACT  

Somatic Consequences of Violence Against Women
Koss and Heslet
Arch Fam Med 1992;1:53-59.
ABSTRACT  

Violence, Values, and Gender
Flitcraft
JAMA 1992;267:3194-3195.
ABSTRACT