Title
AFTER HOURS CARE FOR PATIENTS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE IN THE ROYAL DARWIN AND PALMERSTON REGIONAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS: a prospective cross-over study looking at the effects of an afterhours referral guideline and staff training package on re-presentation rate for patients experiencing domestic and family violence.
Project Summary
The Northern Territory (NT) has the highest rates of domestic and family violence (DFV) in Australia, with many patients presenting to hospital for treatment. Our project intends to improve outcomes for patients experiencing DFV seen in hospital emergency departments (EDs) through implementation of an after-hours guideline and staff education package. The guideline and education package will utilise the existing best practice hospital guideline and co-design with hospital and community stakeholders to provide clear after hour’s referral pathways. The education package will encourage staff to effectively use the guideline.
DFV presentations and representations will be audited for 6 months prior and post implementation of the framework using diagnostic codes from electronic medical record system. Staff (doctors and nurses) will be followed up with semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences around guideline efficacy and suitability.
Status
Underway
Researchers
Dr Lucy Owen (
Dr Sandra Brownlea
Narelle Raiss
Dr Tim Piatkowski