1. Primary healthcare nurses' experiences of addressing intimate partner violence in supportive legal and health system contexts
- Author
-
Enfermería, Erizaintza, Maquibar Landa, Amaia, Estalella Bellart, Itziar, Romero Serrano, Rocío, Macías Seda, Juana, Gil García, Eugenia, Lancharro Tavero, Inmaculada, Enfermería, Erizaintza, Maquibar Landa, Amaia, Estalella Bellart, Itziar, Romero Serrano, Rocío, Macías Seda, Juana, Gil García, Eugenia, and Lancharro Tavero, Inmaculada
- Abstract
Aim To explore the experiences of primary healthcare (PHC) nurses caring for women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) in a context of institutional support for the management of this health issue. Design Secondary qualitative analysis. Methods A purposeful sample (n = 19) of registered nurses, working in a PHC setting, with experience providing care to women who had disclosed intimate partner violence completed an in-depth interview. Thematic analysis was used to code, categorize and synthesize the data. Results Four themes were developed from the analysis of the interview transcripts. The first two themes address the characteristics of the type of violence most frequently encountered by participants, and how these characteristics shape the needs of women and the care nurses provide them. The third theme encompasses uncertainties and strategies developed to deal with the aggressor during the consultations as the woman's companion or as the patient himself. Finally, the fourth theme reflects the positive and negative consequences of caring for women exposed to intimate partner violence. Conclusion When there is a supportive legal framework and health system to address IPV, nurses are able to implement evidence-based best practices in caring for women experiencing intimate partner violence. The predominant type of violence experienced by women at the time they enter the healthcare system shapes their needs and the service/unit they reach. These varying needs should be considered in the development of training programmes for nurses and should be adapted for different healthcare services. Caring for women experiencing intimate partner violence implies an emotional burden even in an institutional supportive context. Therefore, actions to prevent nurses' burnout should be considered and implemented. Impact Lack of institutional support usually hinders the potential role nurses can play in the care provided to women who have experienced intimate partner violence.
- Published
- 2023