For example, a healthcare provider might unconsciously give less attention to a patient or make assumptions about their medical needs based on race, gender, or age. The unconscious assumptions can lead to delayed or inadequate care, misdiagnoses, or inappropriate treatments, all of which can adversely impact health outcomes. Addressing implicit bias in healthcare is crucial for achieving equity in medical treatment. Strategies to combat these biases involve education and awareness programs for healthcare
professionals. These programs help individuals recognize and acknowledge their biases, fostering a more empathetic and unbiased approach to patient care. Additionally, implementing policies and procedures prioritizing equitable treatment for all patients can play a pivotal role in reducing healthcare disparities. Ultimately, confronting implicit bias in healthcare is essential to creating a more just and equitable healthcare system where everyone receives fair and equal treatment regardless of their background or characteristics.
INTRODUCTION
Some of the most commonly cited reasons for healthcare providers’ failure to identify and or intervene in cases of intimate partner violence (IPV) are lack of knowledge of: best practices for screening and intervening, referral resources, and/or how to incorporate trauma-informed care into practice (Burton & Carlyle, 2020). Since nearly one in three women and men in the United States report an Course Description Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical public health concern that encompasses all forms of abuse or aggression occurring in the context of a current or former romantic relationship. IPV can include physical and/or sexual violence, stalking, and psychological types of aggression such as coercion, threats, and social isolation (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Division of Violence Prevention, 2022). Sexual violence or sexual assault (SA) in particular, defined as any sexual contact perpetrated without the explicit consent of the recipient, is often perpetrated by someone known to the victim—in a national survey, nearly 20% of women who reported experiencing IPV indicated that this included SA (Smith et al., 2018). The purpose Course Overview According to the 2015 Data Brief on the National Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as one in three women and men experience some form of sexual assault (SA), other physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner (intimate partner violence or IPV) during their lifetimes (Smith et al., 2018) . Over 70% of affected women and more than 50% of affected men first experienced these acts before age 25, with 25% of women and 10% of men reporting that these incidents had an impact on their health and well-being (Smith et al., 2018) . Clearly, IPV thus represents an important consideration in patient and client care. Individuals who experience IPV are substantially more likely than the general population to experience adverse health outcomes. These outcomes include acute injury resulting from the violence as well as long-term consequences such as chronic gynecological, central nervous system, and stress-related health problems (Smith et al., 2018; Stubbs & Szoeke, 2021). In addition, victims often experience severe mental health outcomes such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and suicidality (Chandan et al., 2020; Spencer et al., 2019). That IPV experience can have such lasting effects on health suggests that IPV meets the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) definition of trauma: any event(s) experienced by an individual as harmful or life-threatening, and which have lasting effects on health and/or well- being (2023). Further, according to SAMHSA, “Trauma is associated with widespread health challenges across demographic groups and can have far-reaching implications across individuals, families, and communities” (2023, p. 2). Given these considerations, it is crucial that healthcare providers across all disciplines have sufficient understanding
experience of IPV in their lifetimes, it is extremely likely that healthcare providers will encounter someone affected by IPV in their practice. This updated CE module provides critical information needed to overcome the barriers to identifying and intervening in cases of IPV and increase provider competence in caring for those affected. of this intermediate, continuing education course is to provide healthcare professionals across all professions with definitions of and guidelines for the identification of IPV, as well as foundational content on responding to disclosure of IPV in various contexts and settings. Participants will be able to assess, document, and intervene with clients or patients experiencing IPV in a trauma-informed manner. Further, learners will become acquainted with appropriate referral options and strategies for ensuring safe, effective, and nonjudgmental care of persons affected by IPV. Course materials include a list of general referral and specialized resources as well as information on reporting policies and procedures to assist providers in caring for this population. of IPV to provide safe, effective, nonjudgmental, and trauma-informed care. Understanding how IPV may affect diverse individuals and having sufficient knowledge to identify and intervene in cases of IPV can allow providers to tailor care to individual needs and respond to its longer-term effects. This can support those with both acute and historical IPV experiences and ensure high-quality, supportive care for these individuals. The Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine; 2011) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF; 2018) have developed statements and guidelines for IPV that recommend routine screening and intervention in some settings. However, despite these recommendations and the vital role providers play in detecting and intervening early in cases of IPV, screening practices are often inconsistent and screenings are often not comprehensive (Miller et al., 2021). The low rates of screening for IPV are most likely due to the numerous barriers faced by providers and facilities when implementing these guidelines. These barriers as reported by providers included personal discomfort with the issue, lack of knowledge, and time constraints (Burton & Carlyle, 2020; Portnoy, Colon, et al., 2020) Another important barrier is the reticence of survivors to disclose experiences of abuse. Survivors may not be comfortable disclosing traumatic experiences because of embarrassment, the belief that the provider will pass judgment, and fear for their own safety (Dichter et al., 2020). Education is needed to support providers in overcoming these barriers to IPV screening and intervention. The purpose of this intermediate-level course is to provide these providers a solid foundation for identifying and responding to IPV within various settings.
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