DETERMINING THE EFFICACY FOR TRAINING MEDICAL STUDENTS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR SUPPORT

Authors' Affiliations

Katie Lee, Abby Schultz, Lindsey C. Shipley, John Kirby, Lizzie Monroe, Tyler Morgan, MPH, Dawn Tuell, MD, Department of Family Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN

Location

Mt. Mitchell Room 220

Start Date

4-5-2018 8:00 AM

End Date

4-5-2018 12:00 PM

Poster Number

136

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Dawn Tuell, MD

Faculty Sponsor's Department

Department of Pediatrics

Classification of First Author

Medical Student

Type

Poster: Competitive

Project's Category

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Domestic violence and sexual assault (DVSA) are major health issues on which medical schools across the country fail to adequately educate future physicians. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in four men will be a victim of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. The same source reports that one in five women are raped in their lifetime. Because of the widespread nature of these societal problems, the aim of this research was to evaluate the benefit of providing medical students with DVSA education. First and second year medical students at the Quillen College of Medicine attended a mandatory educational lecture on DVSA. We designed a survey to assess the attitudes and knowledge surrounding patient care for DVSA survivors. Students volunteered to complete the same survey before and after the lecture. The surveys were evaluated for statistical significance. A paired t-test showed that the 128 students who took the survey reported a significant increase in comfort level on interviewing, performing a physical exam, and explaining resources to victims of DVSA. Questions regarding knowledge of who should lead exams and the role of emergency contraception in cases of sexual assault also showed statistically significant change by paired t-test analysis following the educational intervention. These findings suggest that medical schools should integrate curriculum on DVSA survivor support in order to increase comfort and knowledge of future physicians in addressing these sensitive topics.

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Apr 5th, 8:00 AM Apr 5th, 12:00 PM

DETERMINING THE EFFICACY FOR TRAINING MEDICAL STUDENTS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR SUPPORT

Mt. Mitchell Room 220

Domestic violence and sexual assault (DVSA) are major health issues on which medical schools across the country fail to adequately educate future physicians. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women and one in four men will be a victim of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. The same source reports that one in five women are raped in their lifetime. Because of the widespread nature of these societal problems, the aim of this research was to evaluate the benefit of providing medical students with DVSA education. First and second year medical students at the Quillen College of Medicine attended a mandatory educational lecture on DVSA. We designed a survey to assess the attitudes and knowledge surrounding patient care for DVSA survivors. Students volunteered to complete the same survey before and after the lecture. The surveys were evaluated for statistical significance. A paired t-test showed that the 128 students who took the survey reported a significant increase in comfort level on interviewing, performing a physical exam, and explaining resources to victims of DVSA. Questions regarding knowledge of who should lead exams and the role of emergency contraception in cases of sexual assault also showed statistically significant change by paired t-test analysis following the educational intervention. These findings suggest that medical schools should integrate curriculum on DVSA survivor support in order to increase comfort and knowledge of future physicians in addressing these sensitive topics.