Where does it hurt? How victimization impacts presentation and outcomes in primary care

IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE appropriate care, the importance ofa thorough health history is widely recognized. However, many practitioners fail to recognize the importance a history of victimization can have on subsequent health outcomes. Thus, while health care providers routinely ask about prior surgeries, illnesses, and broken bones, few ask about exposure to violence or experiences of victimization. Increased recognition of the long-term impact of victimization on patients’ health has led to a call for integrating assessment for victimization into routine care (e.g., American Medical Association, 1995; Family Violence Prevention Fund, 2004).