Date of Award
Summer 2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
College
College of Science and Health
First Advisor
Mary Clare Houlihan
Abstract
Background: Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) frequently encounter barriers to accessing timely follow-up care, particularly within primary care settings. Although telehealth has emerged as a potential strategy to improve access, evidence supporting its implementation and effectiveness for IPV-related care remains limited. Purpose: This study evaluated the use of telehealth for follow-up care among adult IPV survivors by describing patient characteristics, examining factors associated with telehealth utilization, and exploring healthcare provider perspectives on its feasibility and challenges. Methods: Guided by the Social Ecological Model, which situates health behaviors within interconnected individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal contexts, this exploratory descriptive study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. A retrospective chart review was conducted across five primary care clinics to identify adult IPV survivors and characterize patterns of telehealth use. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics and inferential tests (chi-square and Mann–Whitney U) to assess associations with telehealth utilization. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with healthcare providers and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Results: Of 48,102 patient charts, 71 were positively flagged for IPV, with approximately one-third of these individuals completing a telehealth follow-up visit. Higher baseline anxiety scores were significantly associated with telehealth utilization. Providers reported that telehealth enhanced access, continuity of care, and engagement in mental health services; however, its feasibility depended on factors such as patient readiness, trust, provider training, and the availability of safe and private environments. Implications: Telehealth represents a promising yet context-dependent modality for IPV follow-up care, highlighting important implications for trauma-informed practice, institutional policy, and equitable healthcare delivery.
Copyright
Copyright © 2026 Alma Sarai Gonzalez
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Gonzalez, Alma Sarai, "Telehealth Interventions for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence" (2026). Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University. 113.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/theses-dissertations/113