Intimate partner violence in orthopaedic trauma patients

Intimate partner violence (IPV) or domestic violence is a common and serious public health problem around the globe. Victims of IPV frequently present to health care practitioners including orthopaedic surgeons. Substantial research has been conducted on IPV over the past few decades, but very little research has focused on IPV in the field of orthopaedic surgery. Orthopaedic surgeons may be well positioned to help women who are experiencing IPV and position statements from both the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Canadian Orthopaedic Association exist and provide guidance on the topic. This thesis originated from the lack of understanding of IPV in orthopaedic patients as well as the desire to develop a program for orthopaedic surgeons to assist IPV victims presenting to orthopaedic fracture clinics.
The overarching purpose of this thesis was to conduct research to understand the opportunities and challenges facing orthopaedic surgeons in assisting IPV victims in their orthopaedic fracture clinics. The specific aims of this thesis were: 1) to investigate orthopaedic surgeons’, surgical trainees’, and medical students’ perceptions about IPV, 2) to determine the prevalence of IPV in orthopaedic fracture clinic patients, 3) to assess the barriers to and facilitators for screening for IPV in orthopaedic settings, and 4) to discuss the development of a screening program for IPV in orthopaedic fracture clinics.