[Identifying domestic violence within specialized care].

In the present study involving 530 patients in three specialized hospital wards, the prevalence of domestic violence, forms and recurrence of experienced violence and need of further care were elucidated. The health care personnel utilized a questionnaire to identify experiences on domestic violence and putative need of further care. According to patient self-assessment, in 11%, 32%, or 7% of the patients in the maternity department, psychiatric department and emergency department, respectively, domestic violence had a negative impact on well-being and life management. The need for help of these patients would have remained unrecognized without a systematic survey.