Your next patient is a 19-year-old female with abdominal pai…
Your next patient is a 19-year-old female with abdominal pain. She states the pain has been bothering her for the last week, and has progressively become worse. She denies nausea, vomiting, any episodes of diarrhea, or chest pain. She is sexually active with her boyfriend, and admits to having some pain during sex. She states she does not feel comfortable telling her boyfriend that she does not want to have sex. Her last menstrual period was two weeks ago. She reports no history of sexually transmitted infections, but says that she has not questioned her significant other because “he would be upset.” VS 37.1 C (98.7 F), BP 120/70 mmHg, HR 82 beats/minute, RR 18 breaths/minute. PE: The patient is visibly uncomfortable during the physical exam, which reveals a few bruises on her abdomen and lower back that are at different stages of healing. What is an appropriate technique for screening for intimate partner violence in this patient?