Knowledge and practices of regional and rural general practitioners in the identification and management of intimate partner and family violence: a mixed methods study in Western Australia

This study demonstrated that the responding GPs in a regional area with high rates of IPV/FV have generally favourable attitudes towards identifying and assisting with IPV/FV but lack knowledge and confidence in the practical elements of enquiry. Surprisingly for a regional area, there was poor understanding of local support provision. The findings have the potential to meaningfully inform regional and rural primary care experiences, including desired educational opportunities and enhancing the relationship between health professionals and relevant community organisations. The results support the need for upstream changes in the general practice environment to improve the ability of regional and rural GPs to build relationships with patients over time and enhance overall health outcomes for those affected by abuse.