Neuropsychology and family violence: a national survey of training and knowledge levels in clinical neuropsychologists

Abstract

Objective: Family violence causes brain injury and trauma for many victim survivors. Neuropsychologists play a central role in helping with these issues. We aimed to evaluate rates of family violence training, knowledge and clinical skills in Australian neuropsychologists. Method: An online, brief, self-report survey of psychologists practicing clinically in the area of neuropsychology Australia wide. The survey assessed prior training, knowledge and confidence together with awareness of specific family violence clinical skills, and barriers to competent practice. Results: Responses were received from every state and territory and represented more than 10% of the total registered endorsed clinical neuropsychology workforce (N = 92). Over 90% of respondents had undertaken family violence training, however 57% reported having little or no knowledge and 67% little or no confidence working clinically in the area. Knowledge of specific family violence skills was reduced, with only 20% indicating that they knew how to respond, when clients disclosed experiencing family violence. Conclusions: Further work is needed to improve the ability of the Australian neuropsychology workforce to respond to this important health issue. Response of neuropsychologists may be sub-optimal, particularly in regard to the provision of psychological support following disclosures a central tenant of World Health Organization guidelines. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: (1) Family violence is a significant public health issue in Australia. (2) Family violence can cause both brain injuries and psychological trauma and attenuated cognitive functioning has been associated with both of these conditions. (3) Clinical neuropsychologists commonly work with clients who experience cognitive attenuation. What this paper adds: (1) This paper is the first, to our knowledge, to survey training, knowledge, confidence levels and specific family violence clinical skills in Australian neuropsychologists. (2) Over 10% of the endorsed clinical neuropsychology Australian workforce participated in this self-report online survey. (3) Results indicated that most had received some family violence training, however, self-rated knowledge, confidence and awareness of specific family violence skills were relatively low and further training and professional development in this area is required.

Domestic and family violence knowledge and skills: A private mental health service survey of nurses, allied health, and medical clinicians

“…The Assisting Patient/Clients Experiencing Family Violence: Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinician Survey (RMH FV Clinician Survey) tool was used Rudd et al 2021;Withiel et al 2020), with some additional demographic questions included. Designed for the Victorian context, this survey has been used in three previous studies (with combined clinician participants of N = 661) (Fisher et al , 2021Withiel et al 2020). It has good internal consistency indicated in previous studies (Withiel et al 2021), which was maintained in the current data set (Cronbach's alpha of 0.77), can differentiate between professions with higher levels of DFV training and experience, and is sensitive to changes in knowledge following training Withiel et al 2021).…”

“…Designed for the Victorian context, this survey has been used in three previous studies (with combined clinician participants of N = 661) (Fisher et al . 2020, 2021; Withiel et al . 2020).…”

Multifaceted training and readiness to respond to family violence: A prospective cohort evaluation

“…This tool has been found to be reliable (Cronbach's alpha-0.77; Fisher et al, 2022;Cronbach's alpha-0.83;Withiel, Gill & Fisher 2021) and has been previously implemented across a range of clinical areas (Fisher et al, 2022;Fisher et al, 2021;Withiel et al, 2020).…”

“…This 11‐item mixed‐method questionnaire implements a combination of Likert‐type, forced choice (‘Yes, No, Somewhat’) and free text responding to explore changes in clinician readiness to respond to family violence. This tool has been found to be reliable (Cronbach's alpha—0.77; Fisher et al, 2022; Cronbach's alpha—0.83; Withiel, Gill & Fisher 2021) and has been previously implemented across a range of clinical areas (Fisher et al, 2022; Fisher et al, 2021; Withiel et al, 2020). Moreover, a preserved capability to differentiate between professions with higher levels of family violence training (Fisher, Rudkin et al, 2020), further demonstrates its sensitivity to detect change in knowledge following training exposure.…”