Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Presentations to a Virtual Emergency Department: A Retrospective Cohort…

Cohort studyEmergency medicine Australasia : EMA· Aug 2026

Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Presentations to a Virtual Emergency Department: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Eleanor R Johnson, Kristina Edvardsson, Jennifer Hutton … Rebecca L Jessup

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Emergency MedicineCohort studyClinical practice

Family and domestic violence cases were rarely identified in a virtual emergency department

Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Presentations to a Virtual Emergency Department: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Eleanor R Johnson … Rebecca L Jessup

Emergency medicine Australasia · Aug 2026

Background

Family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) is a global health issue affecting one in four women.

Purpose

This study aimed to identify and describe FDSV presentations to the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (Victorian Virtual Emergency Department).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study examined FDSV presentations to Victorian Virtual Emergency Department between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.

n = 173,936 VVED presentations

Results

0.012%

family violence went almost entirely undetected in this virtual ed

n = 173,936 VVED presentations

More results

All were female, median age 37 years.

Most were born in Australia (86%) and lived in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas (62%).

Intimate partner violence was the most common form of FDSV (81%), and injuries above the clavicle (head, face and neck injuries) were the most frequent presentation (53%).

More results

Most patients were referred via healthcare professionals (76%).

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

FDSV presentations were rarely identified in the virtual emergency setting, suggesting under-detection.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Virtual emergency departments offer opportunities to support people experiencing violence, but improved clinician training, documentation and referral pathways are needed.

Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Presentations to a Virtual Emergency Department: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Presentations to a Virtual Emergency Department: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

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