Date of Graduation
Spring 5-22-2026
Document Type
Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
Department/Program
Nursing
Program
Family Nurse Practitioner
First Advisor
Dr. Norwood
Abstract
Background: In the United States, one in four women experiences intimate partner violence (IPV), highlighting the critical need for improved screening and intervention within the healthcare system. Routine visits in healthcare settings present a significant opportunity for healthcare providers to identify and address IPV.
Local Problem: A primary care family practice clinic in San Leandro, California , currently lacks a standardized evidence-based screening toolkit for IPV. The absence of such a toolkit creates a gap in practice, leaving patients at risk of undiagnosed IPV and its related consequences. To address this gap, there is a pressing need for the development and implementation of an evidence-based IPV screening toolkit at the clinic.
Methods: An educational intervention was conducted at the primary family care clinic to enhance the staff’s knowledge and competence in screening for IPV. The intervention consisted of a PowerPoint presentation that provided comprehensive information about IPV, its risk factors, impact on maternal and neonatal health, barriers to screening, and the HITS (hurt, insult, threaten, scream) evidence-based screening tool.
Intervention: The staff participating in the intervention included the medical doctor, four nurse practitioners, the medical assistant, and the secretary. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention, a pre-test was administered before the PowerPoint presentation to establish baseline knowledge, followed by a post-test administered after the presentation to determine an increase in knowledge.
Outcome Measures: This DNP project aimed to improve healthcare providers’ knowledge of IPV, while also enhancing their confidence and perceived ability to effectively implement the HITS screening toolkit for IPV screening by 20%. The rate of IPV screening in the clinic after the intervention increased by 50%.
Recommended Citation
Partner, Eleasha P., "Intimate Partner Violence Screening and Awareness Pilot Project" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects. 390.
https://repository.usfca.edu/dnp/390
