Domestic abuse among female doctors: thematic analysis of qualitative interviews in the UK.
abused woman
domestic violence
interpersonal violence, peer support
qualitative research
spouse abuse
women physicians
Journal
The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
ISSN: 1478-5242
Titre abrégé: Br J Gen Pract
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9005323
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2021
2021
Historique:
received:
26
08
2020
accepted:
03
11
2020
pubmed:
10
2
2021
medline:
29
6
2021
entrez:
9
2
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Doctors can be victim-survivors of domestic abuse (DA), but how this impacts their work and wellbeing, and whether they face barriers to seeking help is not well understood. To understand single doctor mothers' lived experience of DA, barriers to seeking help, and impact on their work. Individual qualitative interviews with female doctors in the UK who had left an abusive relationship. Interviews were conducted between August 2019 and March 2020. Participants were invited via a closed online forum for female doctors who are single parents. In total, 114 females expressed interest. In-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed. Transcripts were uploaded to NVivo and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. A total of 21 participants were interviewed. The internalised stigma of DA affected participants' sense of identity and belonging as a doctor, causing social and professional isolation. Many participants felt that the acute stress of DA had an impact on their work, yet often felt unable to take time off. Barriers to seeking help included lack of confidentiality, especially where the abusive partner was also a doctor (sometimes accusing the victim-survivor of mental illness or threatening to report them to the General Medical Council). Participants found peer support helpful, as well as consulting health professionals who were empathic towards them. After they had left the abusive relationship victim-survivors felt better equipped to support patients going through DA. Domestic abuse impacts on the work and wellbeing of female doctors, who face unique barriers to help seeking and reporting DA. An online peer support group can help to break the sense of isolation, but specialised confidential support services are also required to help doctors experiencing DA.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Doctors can be victim-survivors of domestic abuse (DA), but how this impacts their work and wellbeing, and whether they face barriers to seeking help is not well understood.
AIM
To understand single doctor mothers' lived experience of DA, barriers to seeking help, and impact on their work.
DESIGN AND SETTING
Individual qualitative interviews with female doctors in the UK who had left an abusive relationship. Interviews were conducted between August 2019 and March 2020.
METHOD
Participants were invited via a closed online forum for female doctors who are single parents. In total, 114 females expressed interest. In-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed. Transcripts were uploaded to NVivo and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 21 participants were interviewed. The internalised stigma of DA affected participants' sense of identity and belonging as a doctor, causing social and professional isolation. Many participants felt that the acute stress of DA had an impact on their work, yet often felt unable to take time off. Barriers to seeking help included lack of confidentiality, especially where the abusive partner was also a doctor (sometimes accusing the victim-survivor of mental illness or threatening to report them to the General Medical Council). Participants found peer support helpful, as well as consulting health professionals who were empathic towards them. After they had left the abusive relationship victim-survivors felt better equipped to support patients going through DA.
CONCLUSION
Domestic abuse impacts on the work and wellbeing of female doctors, who face unique barriers to help seeking and reporting DA. An online peer support group can help to break the sense of isolation, but specialised confidential support services are also required to help doctors experiencing DA.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33558329
pii: BJGP.2020.0795
doi: 10.3399/BJGP.2020.0795
pmc: PMC7909912
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e193-e200Informations de copyright
© The Authors.
Références
Clin Teach. 2018 Oct;15(5):382-386
pubmed: 28984416
BMC Womens Health. 2018 Jun 26;18(1):113
pubmed: 29940948
Health Expect. 2016 Feb;19(1):62-73
pubmed: 25556776
J Interpers Violence. 2020 Jan;35(1-2):294-318
pubmed: 29294623
J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016 Mar;25(3):311-20
pubmed: 26468760
Lancet. 2009 Nov 14;374(9702):1714-21
pubmed: 19914516
BMC Health Serv Res. 2020 Feb 21;20(1):129
pubmed: 32085771
Br J Gen Pract. 2017 Oct;67(663):e700-e708
pubmed: 28893766
BMC Womens Health. 2019 Aug 6;19(1):106
pubmed: 31387561
Qual Quant. 2018;52(4):1893-1907
pubmed: 29937585
Sociol Health Illn. 2019 Jul;41(6):1159-1174
pubmed: 31001866
J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2017 Jun 20;12(6):477-482
pubmed: 31435282
J Clin Nurs. 2017 Aug;26(15-16):2266-2273
pubmed: 27075361
Scand J Caring Sci. 2014 Mar;28(1):3-11
pubmed: 23350912
Arch Intern Med. 2006 Jan 9;166(1):22-37
pubmed: 16401807
J Clin Nurs. 2014 Nov;23(21-22):3057-68
pubmed: 24444430
Health Soc Care Community. 2013 Sep;21(5):489-99
pubmed: 23638940
BMJ. 2015 Dec 09;351:h6720
pubmed: 26656746
BJPsych Bull. 2018 Aug;42(4):165-168
pubmed: 29712575