Domestic violence: making the doctor and the pharmacist key interlocutors

In 2019, the High Authority for Health (HAS) had already issued recommendations for general practitioners to systematically question women seen in consultation about domestic violence they may have suffered, whether current or past. . But faced with the various obstacles encountered in practice, HAS is offering a new tool.

Experimentation on more than 1,000 doctors

Launched in experimentation on 1,153 volunteer doctors, this test took the form of a randomized study, which made it possible to “note an increase in the number of women questioned by 76% in the group of doctors who received the tools developed, which represents 2 more women questioned each week”.

Following this rather positive observation, the HAS decided to deploy this tool on a national scale and invites all general practitioners to use it.

A practical tool, in one page

On the document written in a concise way, the doctors will be able to have answers to the questions which they ask themselves, in front of a woman, who would be potentially victim of conjugal violence. “Why screen? When and how to test? What to do in case of violence?“.

The general practitioner will find the answers to these questions in this one-page document. A tool that also contains “reminders on the merits of screening, practical advice on how to raise the subject with the patient, and useful contact information and resources” in order to “give doctors the keys to identify victims of violence” emphasizes the HAS.

Victims who speak little

By giving doctors this type of tool, HAS hopes to free women’s voices. Indeed, she recalls,most victims do not spontaneously address the violence they experience“. By asking doctors to talk about it, women know that they can benefit from a place to listen. At the same time, HAS reminds doctors that other healthcare professionals can help these women, such as “actors in the social, associative, medico-social and judicial sectors“.

Pharmacists concerned too

The Order of Pharmacists also wishes to add its stone to the building, by offering two tools to community pharmacists, intended to help them “better identify, advise and guide women who are victims of domestic violence”. This is a practical sheet presenting “including advice on the attitude to adopt vis-à-vis the victims” and “useful resources” to guide them as best as possible. In addition, a more complete information booklet on domestic violence makes it possible to better understand the mechanisms of this and their consequences.

Finally, the HAS message is also addressed to the victims, and the “encourage people to talk about it” with their general practitioner, or to make contact with the numerous associations established in the territory (list to be found on arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr).

Finally, an anonymous and free listening platform is also accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 3919.