Of 221 psychiatric residents at four U.S. medical schools, 145 responded
to a survey about their training and clinical experience in recognizing
domestic violence and providing referrals and treatment. Only 28 percent
reported receiving training in this area. Almost half reported that they
asked about domestic violence in less than a quarter of their cases
involving female patients. Fifty-nine percent of respondents did so "only
when a problem was suspected." Eighty-seven percent had seen at least one
case of domestic violence in the previous year. Those with training in
recognizing domestic violence identified significantly more cases.
Sixty-five percent of all residents surveyed were unable to list a local
agency for referral.
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