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The voices of survivors documentary

Using patient narrative to educate physicians about domestic violence

  • Innovations In Education And Clinical Practice
  • Published:
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Abstract

This article describes a method of developing physician education materials using analysis of domestic violence patient experiences and patients’ descriptions of their experiences. The process began with interviews of 21 domestic violence survivors, focusing on what they wanted to teach physicians. Qualitative analysis of these interviews identified 4 main themes regarding what survivors wanted physicians to understand about life in an abusive relationship: that domestic violence is universal, that it is more than just physical assaults, that it is all about power and control, and that it affects the entire family. Because what survivors wanted from physicians differed depending on where they were in their abusive relationships, recommendations were developed for each of 5 common situations: when a patient may not yet recognize the abuse, when s/he may not be ready or able to disclose the abuse, when s/he chooses to remain in an abusive relationship, when s/he is seeking care for an acute assault, and when s/he has left the relationship but not yet healed. Interview excerpts representing each of the identified themes are used to create a 30-minute educational documentary. A written companion guide covers the traditional aspects of domestic violence education. In teaching about domestic violence or other health problems where it is difficult for physicians to understand their patients intuitively, an educator’s most important role may be to direct learners to listen to the experience and wisdom of patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health and Sciences University, L475, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., 97201-3098, Portland, OR

    Christina Nicolaidis MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Christina Nicolaidis MD, MPH
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Correspondence to Christina Nicolaidis MD, MPH.

Additional information

Received from the Oregon Health and Sciences University, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Portland, Ore.

The Voices of Survivors documentary can be obtained from the ACP-ASIM:

Product code 180400590; Phone orders: 1-800-523-1546, ext. 2600; Internet orders: www.acponline.org/clinicalskills/csvideos.htm

This project was primarily funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation while Dr. Nicolaidis was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. The views expressed in the documentary and in this article are not necessarily those of the Foundation. Additional contributions came from the Providence Health System of Puget Sound and the American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine.

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Nicolaidis, C. The voices of survivors documentary. J GEN INTERN MED 17, 117–124 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2002.10713.x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2002.10713.x

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