Factors Influencing Hesitancy in Medical Students to Assess History of Victimization in Patients

Abstract

This study examined factors associated with hesitancy in medical students to assess patients for history of victimization by interpersonal violence. A survey on preferences regarding assessment of victimization history and attitudes toward victims and perpetrators of interpersonal violence was completed by 102 senior undergraduate medical students. Most students disagreed with routine screening of patients. There were no differences in hesitancy to assess patient history of victimization by gender, year of training, personally knowing a victim, or witnessing adult violence in the home. Negative attitudes toward victims and lower knowledge of characteristics and consequences of violence, particularly that related to rape, were associated with increasing hesitancy to assess history of victimization. Victim blaming alone emerged as a significant predictor of student hesitancy. Training in interpersonal violence issues for medical students must focus on student attitudes in order to assist them in appropriate assessment of and intervention with victims of violence.