@article{ref1,
title="Health care workers' expectations and empathy toward patients in abusive relationships",
journal="Journal of the American Board of Family Practice",
year="2005",
author="Nicolaidis, Christina and Curry, Mary Ann and Gerrity, Martha",
volume="18",
number="3",
pages="159-165",
abstract="PURPOSE: To understand attitudes that may affect health care workers' ability to provide appropriate long-term care for patients who stay with abusive partners. METHODS: We surveyed 278 health care workers in 31 primary care practices before their participation in an educational intervention. RESULTS: More than half of participants (51% to 60%) found it easy to empathize with a patient who decided to remain in an abusive relationship if the patient was described as poor or disabled, but few (25% to 39%) could empathize if the patient was described as educated or financially secure. A majority (57% to 59%) agreed with a statement meant to assess unrealistic expectations. (&quot;A provider's responsibility includes making sure a patient gets to a shelter right away if he or she discloses abuse.&quot;) Participants who agreed with this statement had more difficulty empathizing with patients who decided to stay with an abusive partner (P = .0045). CONCLUSIONS: Training efforts must focus on screening and on helping providers develop more realistic expectations about the complex nature of leaving an abusive relationship. Health care workers need a better understanding of the barriers patients face and why patients may choose to remain in abusive relationships, even in the absence of economic or health limitations.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0893-8652",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}