Which approach is appropriate when screening for domestic violence?

Which approach is appropriate when screening for domestic violence?

• A. Interview the patient alone
• B. Interview the patient with the partner present
• C. Rely on written surveys only
• D. Speak with a family member instead of the patient

Answer: (A)

Screening for domestic violence works best when the patient is interviewed alone. Privacy in this moment is essential because it encourages honest disclosure about abuse, fear, and safety needs. When the partner is present, the patient may withhold information due to fear of retaliation, shame, or pressure, and the clinician may miss critical details needed to assess risk and plan safety. A confidential, private conversation also makes it possible to assess immediate safety, discuss options, and connect the patient with appropriate resources without risk of coercion or harm in front of the partner. While written surveys can help, they often miss context, may not be accessible to everyone, and should not be the sole method of screening. Speaking with a family member instead of the patient undermines the patient’s autonomy and can provide only secondhand information, which is not reliable for assessing risk or needs. So the best approach is to interview the patient alone, in a private, safe setting, to facilitate open communication, accurate assessment, and appropriate support.

Screening for domestic violence works best when the patient is interviewed alone. Privacy in this moment is essential because it encourages honest disclosure about abuse, fear, and safety needs. When the partner is present, the patient may withhold information due to fear of retaliation, shame, or pressure, and the clinician may miss critical details needed to assess risk and plan safety.

A confidential, private conversation also makes it possible to assess immediate safety, discuss options, and connect the patient with appropriate resources without risk of coercion or harm in front of the partner. While written surveys can help, they often miss context, may not be accessible to everyone, and should not be the sole method of screening. Speaking with a family member instead of the patient undermines the patient’s autonomy and can provide only secondhand information, which is not reliable for assessing risk or needs.

So the best approach is to interview the patient alone, in a private, safe setting, to facilitate open communication, accurate assessment, and appropriate support.