Investigating the Reliability and Validity of a Newly Developed Intimate Partner Violence Screening Tool for use in Physical Therapy Practice

Abstract

We conducted a study to investigate the reliability and validity of a newly developed Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Screening Tool. The literature shows that victims of intimate partner violence identify health-care practitioners as potential sources of support. Meanwhile health care professionals are often unprepared to identify and help victims appropriately. Our survey addressed psychosocial, socio-economic and physical constructs influencing prevalence and screening accuracy for IPV. Four experts in the fields of social sciences, education, and physical therapy gave feedback on the survey content validity. A rubric was designed to determine construct validity and inter-rater reliability. The new IPV screening tool was shown to have strong inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.71, p<0.001), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.80-1.0 for all constructs, p<0.001), construct validity, concurrent validity, and percent agreement (88.9-100%) among an expert panel of four qualified health professionals, including two licensed physical therapists and two licensed social workers with expertise in women's health issues. The results of this study suggest the newly developed IPV Screening Tool for Physical Therapists to hold a strong content and construct validity, strong internal consistency, and strong inter-rater reliability and percent agreement between experts. Future research should focus on pilot testing for clinical utilization with feedback from both clinicians and patients regarding application.

Exploring the Relationships Between Rehabilitation and Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Scoping Review

“…Most included articles discussed opportunities for rehabilitation interventions for survivors of IPV (68%, n = 30). Eight articles (18%) described or evaluated rehabilitation interventions ( Cerny et al, 2019 ; de Oliveira & Ferigato, 2019 ; Fitzgerald et al, 2017 ; Gutman et al, 2004 ; Helfrich & Rivera, 2006 ; Jones et al, 2021 ; Mangum et al, 2019 ; Walton et al, 2017 ), and seven articles (16%) explored rehabilitation professionals’ knowledge of or attitudes toward IPV ( Clark et al, 1996 ; de Oliveira & Ferigato, 2019 ; Johnston et al, 2001 ; Macpherson et al, 2022 ; Shahgangar, 2004 ; Sivagurunathan et al, 2019 ; Williamson et al, 2004 ). One article touched on both rehabilitation interventions and knowledge and attitudes and is included in both categories ( de Oliveira & Ferigato, 2019 ).…”

“…One was a broader qualitative exploration of the ways OTs assist survivors of domestic violence within primary care groups, noting the breadth of settings where OTs might support survivors (e.g., community workshops, home visits) and the variety of interventions OTs are equipped to provide (e.g., supporting self-expression related to violence, supporting social participation; de Oliveira & Ferigato, 2019 ). The final article described the evaluation of an IPV screening assessment for use in a PT clinic, noting strong inter-rater reliability and good construct validity for the tool ( Walton et al, 2017 ). A full summary of rehabilitation intervention articles is shown in Table 2 .…”

Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence and Endodontic Treatment Needs: Pilot Study

“…This screening tool exhibited excellent construct and content validity, internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability. 23 A systematic review reported that HITS was one of the most studied screening tools with sensitivity range of 30–100% and specificity range of 86–99%. Sensitivity ranges varied depending on the population.…”