The important gut feeling: A qualitative content analysis of ambulance nurses’ experiences of encountering victims of domestic violence

Domestic violence is a global public health issue which violates women's human rights. Ambulance nurses may encounter women exposed to domestic violence, often under complex and time-constrained circumstances, and often in patients’ homes. The present study aimed to explore how ambulance nurses experience such situations in a prehospital setting. The study's qualitative design was based on eight semi-structured interviews with ambulance nurses in one Swedish region. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The study follows the COREQ (i.e. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) reporting guidelines. The findings show that the nurses relied on subtle signs, intuition and experience to interpret the situation and assess potential exposure to violence. Creating trust was described as central, yet difficult. Participants described strategies to enable disclosure, such as separating the individual from their partner and using the ambulance as a neutral space. At the same time, a lack of guidelines and uncertainty about further steps contributed to hesitation and emotional strain. The results point to a need for increased support in the form of education, structured documentation and clear referral pathways. Strengthening these areas may help ambulance nurses feel more confident in responding to domestic violence and contribute to safer care for the victims of domestic violence.