Clinicians’ preparedness to identify and address violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation experienced by people with multiple sclerosis

Lead: A/Prof Claudia Marck, Disability and Health Unit in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

An estimated 8 million Australians have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, which is a key social determinant of health. People with disability are at 2.6 times the risk of intimate partner violence, 1.9 times the risk of emotional abuse, and 2.2 times the risk of sexual violence, compared to people without disability. Some violent and abusive behaviours are specifically targeted at people with disability, e.g. withholding or forced medication, restrictive practices and denial of access to social and other supports.

This project will collect qualitative data from Multiple sclerosis (MS) clinicians to assess their preparedness to identify and manage experiences of maltreatment in their patients with MS. This data will inform next steps to better prepare this workforce to improve support to people with MS, who seem at especially high risk for maltreatment.