NCJ Number
219738
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 22 Issue: 6 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 441-447
Date Published
August 2007
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study assessed the effectiveness of the interactive domestic violence course given to fifth-year students at the Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine (DEUFM) in Izmir, Turkey, using tests before and after the course.
Abstract
The study found that the course on domestic violence increased students' knowledge and awareness of domestic violence. There was a statistically significant improvement on test scores after completing the course on the description and frequency of domestic violence, child abuse, relevant Turkish law, and the responsibility of physicians to address domestic violence suffered by their patients. The course also stimulated students to re-examine their own personal experience of domestic violence. The course successfully fulfilled its stated objectives of guiding students to question their personal prejudices about domestic violence, increasing awareness of the issue, and informing them of physicians' responsibilities and pertinent Turkish legislation and international legislation. Planned improvement and expansion of the course are described. The course content consisted of descriptions and frequency of domestic violence, its impact on women's health, the reasons why physicians do not adequately address the needs of domestic violence victims, international health institutions' suggestions for physicians in addressing these cases, and issue-specific national and international legislation. Students were questioned on issues covered in the course content both before and after the course. 2 tables, 26 references, and appended test