From the Research
The identification of ICD-10 codes used in pediatric healthcare encounters where children are evaluated after exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) is crucial for improving identification, monitoring, and intervention for children exposed to IPV, as highlighted in a recent study 1. This research is important because IPV affects one-third of women, often occurring with children present, and childhood exposure to IPV is linked to numerous adverse health outcomes, including emotional impairment and other harmful effects 2. While ICD-10 codes could help track IPV cases and assess management disparities, their use in pediatric settings where caregiver IPV is disclosed remains uncharacterized, and expert recommendations advise against using IPV-specific diagnostic codes in children's health records due to potential risks associated with disclosure. Some key points to consider in this context include:
- The need for a phased approach to enquiry about IPV, focusing on 'safety at home' and integrated into the context of the consultation or visit, as recommended by healthcare and social service professionals 3.
- The importance of sufficient training and ongoing individual and system-level support for professionals to provide acceptable identification of and initial response to children's exposure to IPV 3.
- The potential for ICD-10 codes to help identify children exposed to IPV, while also considering the risks associated with disclosure and the need for a trauma-informed and violence-informed model of care 1. By identifying which codes are currently being used in these situations, the study could provide valuable insights for improving identification, monitoring, and intervention for children exposed to IPV, while balancing the need for documentation with safety concerns, as emphasized in recent research on the effects of IPV on children 4. This information could ultimately help healthcare providers better address this significant public health issue affecting vulnerable children, as highlighted in a study on children's exposure to IPV 5.