Training Australian general practitioners to counsel women experiencing intimate partner abuse (WEAVE): a pre-post training analysis

Felicity Young; Mohajer Hameed; Leesa Hooker; Angela Taft; Kelsey Hegarty

doi:10.1186/s12875-024-02337-0

Training Australian general practitioners to counsel women experiencing intimate partner abuse (WEAVE): a pre-post training analysis

BMC Prim Care. 2024 Mar 20;25(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s12875-024-02337-0.

Authors

Felicity Young^{1

2}, Mohajer Hameed³, Leesa Hooker^{4

5}, Angela Taft⁵, Kelsey Hegarty^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, 3552, Australia. f.young@latrobe.edu.au.
² Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia. f.young@latrobe.edu.au.
³ The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University, Brunswick, VIC, 3056, Australia.
⁴ La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, 3552, Australia.
⁵ Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia.
⁶ Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, 200 Berkeley Street, Carlton, Vic, 3053, Australia.
⁷ The Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Road, Parkville, Vic, 3052, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Evaluations of Intimate Partner Abuse training for general practitioners is limited. The Women's Evaluation of Abuse and Violence Care study trialled in Australia was a primary care intervention that included delivering the Health Relationships training, a program that educates practitioners on how to provide supportive counselling and assistance to women afraid of an intimate partner. We report on effectiveness of the Healthy Relationships training program within a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Methods: General practitioners filled out a baseline survey and surveys before and after training, including quantitative and open-text questions on barriers and enablers to supporting victim-survivors. The Physician Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence Survey (PREMIS) tool, a validated measure, was included to assess practitioner knowledge, skills, confidence, and attitudes. General linear model repeated analysis of variance tested the difference between trial groups over time.

Results: Fifty-two general practitioners completed the baseline demographic survey, with 65% (19 intervention, 18 comparison) completing both pre-and-post-training surveys. There were no between-group differences in baseline characteristics. Post-training, the intervention group had significantly higher average scores than the comparison on perceived preparation to address abuse (p = .000), perceived knowledge (p = .000), actual knowledge (p = .03), and greater awareness of practice-related issues (p = .000). There were no between-group differences in PREMIS opinion domain scores on workplace issues, self-efficacy and understanding of victims. Post-training, the qualitative data indicated that the intervention practitioners (n = 24) reported increased knowledge, awareness, and confidence, while time pressures and lack of referral options impeded addressing abuse.

Conclusion: The Healthy Relationships Training program for general practitioners increased aspects of practitioner knowledge, skills, and confidence. However, more support is needed to change opinions and support victim-survivors sustainably.

Trial registration: The WEAVE trial was registered on 21/01/2008 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry, number ACTRN12608000032358.

Keywords: Domestic violence; General practice; Healthcare; Intimate partner abuse; Primary care; Training.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Australia
Female
General Practitioners*
Health Status
Humans
Intimate Partner Violence* / prevention & control
Self Efficacy