Impact of a Novel Training Curriculum for Pediatric Residents in the Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence - Abstract
Objective: To assess pediatric residents’ knowledge of and attitudes about IPV at a community hospital in the South Bronx before and after IPV training.
Methods: A seven-hour IPV training program on IPV relevant screening, education, policies, and resources was offered in July/August 2010 and again in July/August 2011. Residents completed a pre- and post-training survey consisting of 60 questions divided into 14 distinct themes/competencies areas. Mean scores were calculated for each theme/competency. Paired sample t-tests were used to evaluate participants’ pre-test and post-test change in survey responses. After the 2011 training module, a convenience sample of caregivers and adolescents were assessed with a separate health visit exit-survey focusing on IPV and provider interview.
Results: Thirty-six residents were trained and surveyed in 2010 (PGY-1 and 2), 18 (50%) received a second training module in 2011. The baseline survey showed that 60% of the residents lacked prior IPV-specific training, and 50% were unaware of relevant community resources. Mean values for 12 out of the 14 IPV-relevant themes improved significantly after the initial training module and exhibited further improvement in several areas of theme/competency including self-efficacy, referral, screening, workplace limitations, legal requirements, and victim understanding after the 2nd training module in 2011. Among the teenager sample (n=113) (mean age [SD] of 14.2 [2.2] years), 86% indicated that they would ask their provider for help if they were victims of IPV; while 80% of the caregivers (n=101) said they would discuss healthy relationships with their teenagers.
Conclusion: This IPV-specific training module for residents improved significantly their IPV-relevant competencies. Our findings demonstrate that IPV-specific training would be a beneficial addition to the Pediatric Residency Training Curriculum.