Contemporary perspectives regarding domestic violence and abuse in primary care: Cross-sectional NHS patients survey

Abstract

Background Primary care plays a key role in addressing domestic violence and abuse (DVA) globally. However, DVA remains underdiagnosed and inadequately addressed in primary care, necessitating a deeper understanding of patients’ perspectives in the UK.Objectives To explore patients’ perceptions of their awareness of DVA signs and their attitudes towards using the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST)-short during routine primary care encounters.Methods An anonymous 29-item e-Survey, available in 18 languages and including information about DVA support services, was administered via the Qualtrics XM Platform™ from March to October 2022. Eligible UK National Health Service patients aged 18+ were identified by GP practices in Northwest London and invited via SMS to participate.Results Data were collected from 6,967 NHS patients. The majority (78.0%) claimed awareness of the signs of DVA in adults and children, while about 22% were unaware or unsure of the signs of DVA. Nearly 85% reported insufficient public awareness about DVA. Around 70% recommended implementing the WAST-short screening tool during primary care encounters to raise awareness and support survivors. Over 50% viewed general practice as the optimal setting for identifying and referring survivors.Conclusion Improved public education on DVA is needed, as a significant proportion of patients remain unaware or unsure of its signs, with the majority deeming public knowledge insufficient. Patients’ strong support for using standardised screening tools like the WAST-short reflects their trust in healthcare providers to conduct sensitive assessments. Integrating these tools into routine practice could enhance DVA interventions.

Keywords

• Domestic violence
• primary care
• public health
• primary prevention