Episode Details

Episode 44: Diabetic Retinopathy. 

Dr Carranza explains the effect of diabetes on the retina, domestic abuse among female doctors, jokes.

Today is March 15, 2021.

Domestic Abuse among Female Doctors

There are topics which are very sensitive, but we need to talk about them.

Such is the case of domestic abuse among doctors. Do you know what is the most important risk factor to be a victim of domestic abuse? Yes, being female, and doctors are not an exception. 

Recently, in February 2021, the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) posted an article addressing this topic.  The aim of the article was to understand the experience of female doctors as victims of domestic abuse, the barriers they faced to find help, and the impact that domestic abuse had on their work. 

The study was limited to doctor mothers because the author had access to this group and she was a member of the online forum and a single doctor herself. 114 doctors expressed interest in the study but a total of 21 participants were interviewed. The criteria to be included in the study were being a single mother working as a doctor and having previously left an abusive relationship. 

Each interview lasted between 44 and 113 minutes and were conducted from August 2019 and March 2020. The interviews were recorded. The principal author of the study can be seen and heard in an interview on the BJGP’s podcast.  

The doctors felt that stress of domestic abuse affected their quality of work but were unable to participate in seeking help because of the social stigma. One of the barriers for seeking help included lack of confidentiality when the other partner was a doctor as well. 

One of the participants expressed that the social services did not treat her with respect when the abuser was a doctor himself. Also, the participants expressed embarrassment and shame because of their status as a doctor as she stated that doctors “should know better.”  

Another negative connotation going through domestic abuse as a doctor is that the particular individual “is not capable of taking care of the patients if she cannot take care of her personal life.” 

The barriers to find help included “owning up” to domestic abuse, not seeking help from social services and work hours. The doctors feel socially and professionally isolated because they are not able to talk about abuse and fear the consequences of reporting. 

One of the most helpful thing for victims of domestic abuse was an online social group. The author added that domestic abuse training should be taught in medical school as doctors can be victims as well.

This is Rio Bravo qWeek, your weekly dose of knowledge brought to you by the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program from Bakersfield, California. Our program is affiliated with UCLA, and it’s sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, Let Us Be Your Healthcare Home. 

Question of the Month: Polyarthralgia
by Valerie Civelli (written by Claudia Carranza)  

This is match week! congrats to everyone, and we hope you matched to your dream residency.  

This is the question of the month. This is the last week you have to answer this question. We have received very interesting answers but we are hoping to receive yours. 

A 49-year-old female comes to clinic reporting bilateral wrist and ankle pain for 1 month. The pain responds well to ibuprofen. She denies joint swelling, warmth, or morning stiffness. She reports feeling very fatigued. You note on her chart that she was diagnosed with COVID-19 six weeks ago that did not require hospitalization. She denies any relevant past medical history. She denies trauma, bleeding, headaches, chest pain, SOB, or dizziness. Exam is remarkable for a “tired look” and tenderness to palpation to bilateral wrist and ankle. No signs of inflammation on joints are noted. What do you think is th