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National experts discuss challenges and strategies for improving health care's response to domestic violence and moving toward evidence-based health care for domestic violence. Comments address ethical and legal issues, system incentives, public health and prevention, the need for evidence-based care, designing an effective research agenda, and outcome measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public health approach has advanced our understanding of family violence and our capacity to develop, implement, and disseminate successful intervention and prevention strategies. To ensure successful public health responses to family violence, emerging public health professionals must be trained to become competent in the field. Boston University School of Public Health has developed a course to help build a critical mass of practitioners. This article describes the content and initial experience with the course, the use of teaching assistants as partners in the educational process, and recommendations for future initiatives in training public health and other health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looks at domestic violence in the United States and the role of physicians in primary prevention, early intervention and follow-up care during and after an episode of domestic violence. Risk factors and clinical characteristics of domestic violence; Obstacles victims face in approaching physicians; Clinical evaluation, intervention and care for victims of domestic violence.

Reports on the presentations of the first national scientific and educational meeting dedicated to domestic violence in the U.S. Examination of the strategies to improve health care response to violence; Acknowledgement of the need for culturally competent health care research related to children; Importance of public health professionals in the prevention-focused approach to family violence.