Computerized Aid Improves Safety Decision Process for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

• NCJ Number: 235064
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2010 Pages: 1947-1964
• Author(s): Nancy Glass; Karen B. Eden; Tina Bloom; Nancy Perrin
• Date Published: November 2010
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses a computerized safety decision aid developed and tested with Spanish and English-speaking abused women in shelters or domestic violence (DV).

Abstract

A computerized safety decision aid was developed and tested with Spanish or English-speaking abused women in shelters or domestic violence (DV) support groups (n = 90). The decision aid provides feedback about risk for lethal violence, options for safety, assistance with setting priorities for safety, and a safety plan personalized to the user. Women reported that the decision aid was useful and provided much-needed privacy for making safety decisions. The majority (69 percent) reported severe to extreme danger in their relationship as scored by Danger Assessment (DA); only 60 percent reported having made a safety plan. After using the safety decision aid, the women felt more supported in their decision (p = .012) and had less total decisional conflict (p = .014). The study demonstrated that a computerized safety decision aid improved the safety planning process, as demonstrated by reduced decisional conflict after only one use in a sample of abused women. (Published Abstract)