HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in Salons 10-12.

FRIDAY, 10:15-11:00 AM

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Shearer H, Bhandari M. Ontario

Chiropractors' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about intimate partner violence among their patients: a cross-sectional survey.

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College hshearer@cmcc.ca

PURPOSE: To assess chiropractors' attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and experience about intimate partner violence (IPV) and identify if any differences exist between respondents' age groups, gender, and year of graduation.

METHODS: We randomly sampled 505 chiropractors from a list of Ontario chiropractors generated from the Canadian Chiropractic Association Website. Depending on non-response, chiropractors were mailed an introductory postcard and up to three subsequent Provider Surveys, demographic forms, and information letters, each with a two to three week spacing. The demographic form and the 39-item survey were returned in the provided stamped, pre-addressed envelope. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVAs, and post-hoc Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS: Three hundred and seven chiropractors responded (response rate=61%) and 297 surveys were completed. Seventy-five percent of respondents were male. Eighty-eight percent of respondents reported that IPV was rare or very rare in their practice while 34% reported that IPV was rare or very rare in their community. Written guidelines for detection/management of IPV were present in less then 2% of respondents' clinics. Female respondents were significantly less likely to blame victims (KW X_=5.745, p=0.017), did not see time as a barrier for IPV inquiry (KW X_=11.762, p=0.001), and were less likely to be concerned of angering the non-abused with IPV inquiry (KW X_=7.371, p=0.007). Older respondents were more likely to ask about IPV related conditions (KW X_=12.740, p=0.005), to blame the victim (KW X_=10.565, p=0.014), have less fear of offending victims with inquiry (KW X_=9.357, p=0.025), and have less safety concerns (KW X_=8.855, p=0.031). Chiropractors with more than 10 years experience were more likely to blame the victim (KW X_=11.108, p=0.001), and ask about IPV depending on presenting symptoms (KW X_=4.812, p=0.28). The post-hoc Mann-Whitney U test identified statistically significant differences between groups at p=0.05. The following domains had statistically significant differences between groups: Experience with IPV for age, graduation date, and gender; Victim Blaming for age, graduation date, and gender; Safety for age and gender; Professional Role Resistance for age and gender; and Perceived Self-Efficacy for gender.

CONCLUSIONS: The Provider Survey indicated that Ontario chiropractors demonstrated limited experience in identifying intimate partner violence. Gender, age and experience were important modifiers in chiropractors' perceptions about intimate partner violence. Our survey illustrates a need for further education about IPV among chiropractors.

 

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