Recently I covered an interesting app that was helping to train doctors to recognize signs of domestic violence in patients. The role of a GP requires a huge range of soft skills, and whilst some of these are relatively easy to teach, others are much harder, especially for new doctors who lack experience. The ability to spot a child who might be suffering from abuse is one of those hard to teach skills.
The researchers built a virtual reality environment that was designed to replicate a GP’s surgery. Each user could then be presented with a range of virtual patients that they interacted with in the same way they would during a real consultation.
Primary care facilities in Rochester, New York are testing another app that they hope will help them better identify and screen patients for domestic violence, before making actionable recommendations for both the victim and their doctor.
The first port of call
“Family care practitioners are often the first place victims of domestic violence turn for help,” the researchers say. “Intimate-partner violence (IPV) is a complex issue with many negative health implications, and physicians need to know what to do when patients disclose abuse or when their symptoms raise concern.”
The app is being offered to patients when the doctor suspects they are at risk of abuse after domestic-violence screening procedures. Health workers are also taking the app out into the community, with a number of protocols provided to help guide usage for both patient and doctor.
At the heart of the application is an avatar, called “RITa®”, who assesses the physical and mental health of the patient. Domestic violence continues to be widespread across the United States, with figures suggesting that as many as one in four women suffer from it.
The avatar asks a total of 30 questions in order to assess the status of the user, before then making recommendations to both the patient and their physician. The avatar also provides advice on relationship dynamics and the impact living with an abusive partner can have on your health.
“RITa® is the first application of a ‘female’ avatar to screen for IPV among victims,” the team say. “RITa® illustrates how we can combine advancements in science and technology with art and design to make a real impact in our community and provide safety for those at risk for serious harm or injury.”
The apps are designed to be used in partnership with cognitive behavioral therapy to provide users with a range of coping skills. With domestic violence still unfortunately a major issue, any attempts to improve things have to be welcomed.
