1. PRO TRAIN
Improving Multi-Professional and Health Care Training in Europe
Building on Good Practice in Violence Prevention

2. Domestic violence and appropriate response in health care settings
Module 2
for health professionals:
Domestic violence and appropriate response in health care settings
PRO TRAIN Improving Multi-Professional and Health Care Training in Europe

3. Intervention steps for routine enquiry and indicator-based screening
Start by developing trust
Take the initiative to ask about the violence
Ensure privacy
Identify risk factors of intimate partner violence
Talk about legal protecton options for victim and child(ren)
Discuss beliefs related to violence with the victim
PRO TRAIN Improving Multi-Professional and Health Care Training in Europe

4. Intervention steps for routine enquiry and indicator-based screening
7. Tell the victim about the impact of violence
8. Always document the interviewing process and the the victim that you write down
9. Tell the victim about further appropriate services
10. Don‘t ever leave the victim alone
(Perttu & Kaselitz 2006)

5. Identifying victims – red flags
Emotional/cognitive: i.e. fearful behaviour, lack of interest, execessive dependance or isolation etc.
Behavioural: i.e. loss of relationships with revlatives or friends, poor or no participation in social life, numb/submissive behaviour etc.
Somatic symptoms/illness: unexplained physcial symptoms (pain, aches), hypertension, stomach pain/gastric ulcer, eating disorders etc.
(Perttu & Kaselitz 2006)
PRO TRAIN Improving Multi-Professional and Health Care Training in Europe

6. Interviewing the victim and further appropriate response
Use questions beginning „How“, „When“, „Who“ and supportive statements such as „I am sorrry this happened to you“.
Do not ask victim blaming questions such as „Why don‘t you just leave him?“
Reinforce that spousal assault is a crime and emphasise the batterer‘s responsibility for his behavour.
PRO TRAIN Improving Multi-Professional and Health Care Training in Europe

7. Examples for asking about violence
Starting questions
Questions when you suspect violence although she seems not to have any signs of physical violence
Questions when she has signs of physical violence
Questions when she has brought up the violence herself
PRO TRAIN Improving Multi-Professional and Health Care Training in Europe