Universal Screening
Definition
Asking all patients in a clinical setting about IPV exposure, regardless of presenting complaint or risk appearance. Contrasted with targeted screening, which applies only when the provider judges the patient to appear at risk.
- Applies to
- All patients in the clinical setting, regardless of complaint
- Contrast
- Targeted screening, applied only when risk is judged present
- Context
- Intimate-partner violence identification
- Rationale
- Avoids missing IPV in patients who do not present with obvious risk signs
Common questions
Why has universal screening become the preferred approach over targeted screening?+
Studies have shown that provider judgment of who 'looks at risk' misses a significant share of IPV victims, since visible injury or a disclosed complaint is not a reliable predictor, so asking every patient closes that detection gap.
Does universal screening require a disclosure to trigger a forensic response?+
No, a screening question is a clinical prompt, not a forensic interview, and a positive or ambiguous response is what then triggers referral to specialist services, safety planning, or forensic documentation if injuries are present.
Related terms
- Coercive Control
- A pattern of behaviour in intimate relationships that seeks to deny autonomy and dominate the victim through means including isolation, monitoring, financial...
- Danger Assessment (DA)
- A 20-item validated instrument developed by Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell for estimating the risk of intimate-partner homicide or near-lethal assault. Combines a weighted...
- Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
- Physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. Encompasses physical assault, sexual coercion, emotional abuse, and coercive...
- PWDV Act 2005
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 (India). Provides civil remedies -- protection orders, residence orders, monetary relief -- for women...
- Safety Planning
- A collaborative process in which the nurse and patient identify practical steps to reduce immediate danger: documents to keep accessible, people to...