Optimistic bias about intimate partner violence among medical personnel

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The study seeks to contribute to the optimistic bias literature by studying the perceptual bias among medical personnel within the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). METHODS: A total of 316 medical students, residents, and nurses were surveyed. RESULTS: Care providers exhibit optimistic bias, believing they are less likely than others to become victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Optimistic bias was related to age, third-person perception, and knowledge/expertise. CONCLUSIONS: From a screening standpoint, the finding suggests that care providers distance themselves from patients by believing they are less vulnerable to IPV, which could decrease screening or negatively impact the effectiveness of screening or the quality of patient care. This finding extends the literature, because it documents optimistic bias among medical personnel, whereas previous findings were limited to patients.