SHOULD FAMILY DOCTORS SCREEN WOMEN FOR INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE? AN EVIDENCE-BASED REVIEW.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJETIVE: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major cause of death and disability on a worldwide scale. IPV affects both sexes but women are more often victims. The World Health Organization highlights violence against women as a priority health issue. IPV is undiagnosed since patients often conceal that they are in abusive relationships. The clues to IPV may be subtle or absent. Family doctors are in a privileged position to identify IPV, considering primary care is the frontline of care. The aim is to access the evidence for routine screening increases IPV identification. METHODS: We conducted a search in Medline and evidence-based medicine websites for clinical practice guidelines (CPG), systematic reviews (SR), meta-analyses (MA), and randomized clinical trials (RCT), published between January 2006 and January, 2016, in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French, for humans adults older than 19 years old, using the MeSH terms ‘Domestic violence’ and ‘Spouse abuse’ and ‘Diagnosis’ and ‘Primary care’. The Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) was used for the assignment of levels of evidence and the strength of recommendations. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of twenty-five studies were found and thirteen articles were selected. These include 6 CPG, 6 SR and 1 RCT. Women should be inquired about IPV and there seem to be no side effects on screening (SORT C). There is limited evidence for universal screening in healthcare settings. Additional studies, specifically comparing universal screening versus case findings, are needed.