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Mobile Health and Telemedicine

Responding to Intimate Partner Violence During Telehealth Clinical Encounters

Educational Objective
To identify the key insights or developments described in this article

1 Credit CME

JAMA

Published Online: June 8, 2021

JAMA Insights

Article Information and Disclosures

Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH¹

Author Affiliations

¹The Center for Health Equity Transformation, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the US have experienced violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime.¹ However, for many individuals, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant sheltering at home have increased levels of stress, panic, and financial and emotional strain. The World Health Organization defines intimate partner violence (IPV) as behavior by a partner, spouse, or ex-partner that can cause or causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm.² A United Nations report cited a global surge in IPV accompanying the stay-at-home and lockdown orders.³ It is possible that IPV cases in many countries have significantly increased. While a recent JAMA Clinical Insights focused on recognizing and responding to IPV during in-person clinical care visits,² the context of IPV identification and supportive care approaches using telehealth modalities warrants attention.

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Article Information

Corresponding Author: Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 625 N Michigan Ave, Ste 1100, Chicago, IL 60611 (m-simon2@northwestern.edu).

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Simon is an immediate past member and current consultant to the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Disclaimer: Dr Simon’s published views do not necessarily reflect those of the USPSTF.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing intimate partner violence. October 9, 2020. Accessed October 27, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html

MacMillan HL , Kimber M , Stewart DE . Intimate partner violence: recognizing and responding safely. JAMA. 2020;324(12):1201-1202. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.11322 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

United Nations. UN News website. UN chief calls for domestic violence “ceasefire” amid “horrifying global surge.” April 6, 2020. Accessed October 27, 2020. https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1061052

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare telemedicine health care provider fact sheet. March 17, 2020. Accessed October 27, 2020. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet

North S . Telemedicine in the time of COVID and beyond. J Adolesc Health. Published online June 27, 2020. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.024 PubMed Google Scholar

Emezue C . Digital or digitally delivered responses to domestic and intimate partner violence during COVID-19. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2020;6(3):e19831. doi:10.2196/19831 PubMed Google Scholar

Curry SJ , Krist AH , Owens DK , et al. Screening for intimate partner violence, elder abuse, and abuse of vulnerable adults: US Preventive Services Task Force final recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;320(16):1678-1687. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.14741 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Usher K , Bhullar N , Durkin J , Gyamfi N , Jackson D . Family violence and COVID-19: increased vulnerability and reduced options for support. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2020;29(4):549-552. doi:10.1111/inm.12735 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Wong CKM , Yip BHK , Mercer S , et al. Effect of facemasks on empathy and relational continuity: a randomised controlled trial in primary care. BMC Fam Pract. 2013;14:200. doi:10.1186/1471-2296-14-200 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

AMA CME Accreditation Information

Credit Designation Statement: The American Medical Association designates this Journal-based CME activity activity for a maximum of 1.00  AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to:

1.00 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;;
1.00 Self-Assessment points in the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery’s (ABOHNS) Continuing Certification program;
1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;
1.00 Lifelong Learning points in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) Continuing Certification program; and
1.00 CME points in the American Board of Surgery’s (ABS) Continuing Certification program

It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting MOC credit.