An emergency department (ED) professional is regularly confronted with victims of violence and their specific needs of care and treatment, but to what extent is mostly unknown in Germany.

The aim of the GeNoaH study was, to determine the prevalence of victims of violence in three German emergency departments and raise the awareness of ED professionals for victims of violence and their specific needs.

That fore, the emergency departments of three hospitals in Hesse / Germany were instructed to screen their patients for experiences of violence using the Partner Violence Screen (PVS) questionnaire[i] [ii] [iii], which was slightly modified for this particular purpose. The staff also received training on existing guidelines for treatment and care of victims of violence. In addition, they were provided with information about local help-service resources.

• Every ED identified victims of violence but a standardized screening of all adult patients could not be achieved continuously
• Cases of physical and psychological acts of violence, as well as feelings of not being safe were found within the screenings
• Cases of community violence, family violence and intimate partner violence were discovered. Nearly half of the affected patients were of immigrant background
• The acute prevalence of violence among the participants ranged between 4.3 % - 14.5 %. Mainly surgical patients were affected. The 12-month-prevalence ranged between 9 % - 16 %. Surgical and medical patients were similarly affected in a 12 month period
• Doctors and nurses who participated in the GeNoaH study reported uncertainties in general areas of treatment and care, like communication with victims, providing advice and support, or legal documentation

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Anna Grundel (M.Sc. Public Health)

University of Applied Sciences Fulda
Department for Care and Health
Marquardstr. 35
36039 Fulda

Tel: +49-661-9640-619
Anna.Grundel@bitte-loeschen.pg.hs-fulda.de 

  

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