A Preliminary Systematic Literature Review and Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence: Clarifying Terminology, Identifying Neurological Outcomes, and Assessing Frontline Workers’ Knowledge

Research

Objectives: To investigate current information in the literature regarding Intimate Partner Violence, specifically, clarifying the definition of Intimate Partner Violence, identifying neurological outcomes, and assessing frontline workers’ knowledge.

Design: Literature review study design using specific data bases and keywords.
Databases: Academic Search Ultimate, ComDisDome, PsycINFO, and EBSCO
Keywords: Emotional abuse, fear conditioning, non-fatal strangulation, trauma, neurological outcomes, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), socioeconomic levels, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), speech language pathology, frontline healthcare workers, healthcare workers, PREMIS, culture, intimate partner violence (IPV), typologies.
Setting: The research study was conducted on the campus of Saint Mary's College Department of Speech Language Pathology
Main Outcome Measures: The literature review focused on three themes: clarifying terminology relating to intimate partner violence, identifying neurological outcomes, and assessing frontline worker knowledge of intimate partner violence

Results: We identified 30 relevant publications. Currently, no established definition of IPV has been determined and there are no practice guidelines in place for the management of IPV. Frontline healthcare workers report the need for additional education and training in order to provide sufficient care to IPV survivors. Many women do not come forward in admittance of abuse due to heightened emotions, shame, cultural beliefs, or economic factors.

Conclusions: The literature asserted the importance and complexity of IPV, without advancing a universal definition. IPV is a prevalent issue, especially among women, that may result in severe physical, emotional, and sexual consequences. The physical head trauma alone can modify brain structures and cognitive functions. From the current literature, healthcare providers lack awareness and training of IPV and consideration of cultural competence and responsiveness. More research is recommended to clarify the definition of IPV, establish guidelines for frontline healthcare workers, and to explore the severity of injury and the significance of neurological outcomes.
Author(s) Disclosures: No conflicts to disclose