Integrating domestic violence (DV) education into pharmacy curriculum is a vital step to equipping pharmacists with the necessary skills to effectively address DV, according to a new Monash study.
The World Health Organization defines DV as "the intentional use of physical force, threats, intimidation, or psychological abuse by a family member, intimate partner or caregiver to control another person's behaviour". It encompasses various forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional and economic, and affects individuals across all demographics, regardless of age, gender, race or socioeconomic status.
Community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers, making them uniquely positioned to identify and support individuals affected by DV. However, training in this area is often lacking in pharmacy education.
In this study, the team of researchers from Monash's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (FPPS) conducted interviews with pharmacy practitioner educators to identify the challenges and opportunities associated with DV education in pharmacy curriculum.
The findings highlighted community accessibility to pharmacists as a primary reason to better prepare the profession to support individuals experiencing DV, while at the same time several challenges were raised by the interviewees, including a lack of confidence, insufficient training, and ethical and legal concerns regarding pharmacists' roles in DV cases.
Those interviewed recommended that students should be trained to recognise, refer and seek guidance from professionals specifically trained to support DV-affected individuals.
The study's lead authors, Dr Harjit Khera and Dr Suzanne Caliph
