What has been the overall outcome of screening for intimate partner violence in patients?

• A. No improvement in health
• B. Significant improvement in health
• C. Worsening health
• D. No data on health outcomes

Answer: (A)

Screening for intimate partner violence in clinical settings mainly increases identification of those affected, but doing so without an accompanying, effective intervention and follow-up has not shown consistent improvements in patients’ health. In other words, simply asking about IPV and flagging cases does not, by itself, translate into better health outcomes for the patient overall. When screening is paired with strong safety planning, counseling, and accessible support services, some benefits can occur, but the aggregate evidence does not demonstrate a clear health improvement from screening alone. The other options imply large or guaranteed health benefits or worsening health, which the data do not support.