Scripted for Her: Intimate Partner Violence Awareness

In episode 5 of Scripted for Her, Natalie DiPietro Mager, PharmD, PhD, MPH, met with Marie Barnard, PhD, associate professor of pharmacy administration at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy. To help call attention toward National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, DiPietro Mager and Barnard discussed the growing importance and opportunities for pharmacists to be a resource for women experiencing intimate partner violence.

Through her work in academia as well as the research and development spaces, Barnard has worked to conduct better ways of highlighting pharmacists as a resource for an issue that is more socially driven than health-related. However, as Barnard explained, instances of intimate partner violence can come in all different types and impact a slew of various health-related outcomes.

“It’s about 47% of women across their lifespan will experience intimate partner violence in some form,” said Barnard. “Everyone experiences this, unfortunately, across their lifespan.” However, women are often the main targets of this violence, leading to some individuals experiencing these events as early as 17.

Amid this intersection of health and social issues, the 2 discussed how pharmacists can bridge certain gaps for millions of women across the country. Being that accessible health care provider with heightened expertise on patient interactions, pharmacists have the ability to take on yet another critical role within the greater health care sector.

For more resources on where to find support for intimate partner violence, and for the resources that Barnard and DiPietro Mager discussed, see the following links:

• US Preventive Services Task Force Final Recommendation on Intimate Partner Violence and Caregiver Abuse of Older or Vulnerable Adults
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
• IPV Health Partners Toolkit
• Pharmacists’ reporting requirements
• Evidence-based CUES intervention to support survivors and prevent violence
• Practical Guide on IPV and Health IT (PDF)

Scripted for Her, a podcast from Drug Topics hosted by Natalie DiPietro Mager, PharmD, PhD, MPH, professor of pharmacy practice at Ohio Northern University, aims to help pharmacists provide comprehensive care and continuity of care for patients. Each episode highlights a key topic in the women’s and maternal health spaces, giving pharmacists actionable advice that can improve patient outcomes.

Be sure to tune in every month on Drug Topics for critical conversations that will help you provide better care for your patients at all stages of life. All episodes of Scripted for Her are available in video format via DrugTopics.com. Check out our most recent episode, Scripted for Her: Maternal Immunizations.

READ MORE: Women’s Health Resource Center

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