Emergency clinicians' perceived self-efficacy in the care of intoxicated women victims of violence.

BACKGROUND

Previous research has identified perceived self-efficacy to be a vital component of clinicians' positive attitudes towards caring for intoxicated patients and women who have been assaulted. To date, little is known about the perceived self-efficacy and influences among emergency clinicians towards intoxicated women victims of violence.

METHOD

Using mixed methods, 179 emergency clinicians were surveyed and 22 emergency clinicians were interviewed in South Australia about their education/training, their awareness and use of best practice guidelines and tools, and their perceived self-efficacy toward treating intoxicated women victims of violence.

FINDINGS

There were statistically significant relationships between use of best practice tools (n = 32) and knowledge (χ = 6.52; p = .02) and confidence (χ = 6.52; p = .02) treating women victims of violence. There were also statistically significant relationships between previous alcohol and other drug education/training and knowledge (n = 43), skills and confidence treating both intoxicated patients (χ = 7.85; p = .01) and women victims of violence (χ = 11.63; p < .01). The interviews identified four themes about confidence, knowledge and use of research evidence, education and training, and resources.

CONCLUSION

Emergency clinicians reported low levels of perceived self-efficacy, and infrequent use of guidelines and tools to support the care of intoxicated women victims of violence. Participants wanted more knowledge and education/training in caring for intoxicated women who have been assaulted, as they felt lacking in these skills.