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Physical Therapists' Recognition of Battered Women in Clinical Settings

TJ Clark, PT, was a student in the Master of Physical Therapy Program, Samuel Merritt College, 370 Hawthorne Ave, Oakland, CA 94609, when this study was conducted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for her master's degree.
L Smith McKenna, DNSc, RN, is Assistant Professor of Nursing, Samuel Merritt College, and Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult Mental Health, in private practice in Lafayette, CA 94549.
MJ Jewell, PhD, PT, is Associate Professor and Chairperson, Department of Physical Therapy, Samuel Merritt College.

Background and Purpose. The purposes of this study were to describe physical therapists' knowledge regarding battered women and to determine whether physical therapists recognize these patients in clinical settings. Subjects and Methods. Two hundred questionnaires were distributed to outpatient physical therapists in northern California. One hundred fifty-one usable questionnaires (76%) were returned. Results. Although 43% of the respondents reported treating a patient they identified or strongly suspected as having been battered, only two respondents (1%) reported they routinely asked patients about physical abuse. Less than 50% of the respondents correctly identified that battering injuries are more likely to occur in a central pattern (ie, head, neck, chest, abdomen). Discussion and Conclusion. The results of this survey suggest that physical therapists have treated patients who are battered. Many physical therapists, however, may not be fully educated to detect the signs of abuse. This study is the first step in initiating physical therapy research in domestic violence identification and education.

Key Words: Battering • Domestic violence • Physical therapy • Public health

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