Date of Award
Fall 12-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
December 2025
College Granting Degree
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Louisana Louis
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive yet frequently underrecognized public health concern, particularly within telehealth psychiatric care, where nonverbal cues may be absent. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to improve the identification and response to IPV by implementing a standardized, evidence-based screening protocol in a private telepsychiatry practice. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, the validated E-HITS screening tool was introduced, along with structured trauma-informed care training, to six psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs). Six PMHNPs completed pre/post-confidence surveys (5-point Likert) and tracked screening activity across 100 telehealth encounters (98 of 100 visit were eligible). Over a three-month period, providers completed IPV screening in 75 of 98 eligible visits (76.5%), with privacy verified in 96 of 98 visits (98%). Among completed screens, six were positive; referrals were offered in 4 of 6 (66.7%). Provider confidence improved substantially (composite mean increased from 3.28 to 5.00; +1.72 points, +52.5%; Wilcoxon signed rank one-sided p = 0.0156). Findings indicate that integrating a validated tool with brief, trauma-informed training is feasible in virtual behavioral health care and improves process outcomes. Opportunities remain to strengthen referral consistency following positive screening results.
Recommended Citation
Oliynyk, Marina, "IMPROVING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SCREENING IN TELEHEALTH MENTAL HEALTH SETTINGS" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 162.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/162