Nonfatal strangulation by a current or former intimate partner is a distinct mechanism of violence with the potential for severe injury or death. As nonfatal strangulation has gained recognition for its significant medical and legal implications, there have been multiple calls for nursing and other health care providers to improve practices related to strangulation screening, assessment, and treatment. Given that US estimates suggest higher prevalence of strangulation of women than of men, this integrative evidence review examines existing literature related to women’s injuries and their subsequent experiences in seeking health care after surviving intimate partner strangulation.Following PRISMA guidelines, 5 electronic databases were searched, ultimately resulting in 13 articles for inclusion.Overall, nonfatal intimate partner strangulation was associated with multiple negative physical and psychological outcomes for women, although only 5% to 69% of strangled women sought health care in studies reporting this finding.Nonprobability sampling, participant self-reports, and relatively small sample sizes were frequently encountered limitations across studies. Heterogeneity of women’s ages and race/ethnicities also limited comparisons. However, existing research provides a beginning framework to support practice and future inquiry.Image 1
Contribution to Emergency Nursing Practice
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Prevalence estimates suggest nonfatal intimate partner strangulation (NF-IPS) is higher in women than in men.
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Injuries after NF-IPS may be subtle, covert, or minimized yet can result in serious health outcomes.
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Screening, assessment, and objective documentation of findings by emergency nurses can improve recognition of NF-IPS, support appropriate care plans and referrals, and help future legal recourse.
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Additional research is needed to test screening, imaging and treatment protocols, use of emerging technology to enhance assessments, and long-term health outcomes associated with NF-IPS.