Rothman: New Approach Needed for Violence Victimization.

Violence victimization is a “chronic condition” that requires a standard of care similar to other chronic conditions, a School of Public Health researcher argues in a commentary in the journal Evidence-Based Medicine.

Reviewing a study by University of Michigan researchers that found that assault-injured youths were more likely to experience subsequent violent injuries, SPH’s Emily Rothman, associate professor of community health sciences, wrote that “long-term violence management action plans” should be developed for victims, rather than merely treating acute-care wounds.

She said the study showed that youths treated for assault-related injuries in an urban emergency department had higher rates of repeated violent injury within two years, as compared with youths who were treated for non-assault-related injuries, and that the probability of re-injury was higher for females, as well as youths with drug use disorders and PTSD.

“Violence is costly and a chronic condition, but yet the standard of care for violence victimization is not comparable with those for other chronic medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes,” Rothman said. “For example, no management plan is provided to patients or their families when patients are discharged, and care other than treatment of the acute care wounds is not offered consistently nor covered by insurance plans.”

She said the study underscores the importance of providing comprehensive services to violently injured youth during the six-month period following an assault.

“Medical care for youth violence victims should change,” she wrote. “Comprehensive mental health, substance use and other advocacy services should be offered. For female victims of youth violence, partner and/or sexual violence-related advocacy should be offered as a matter of course.”

Submitted by: Lisa Chedekel