TY  - SER
AU  - Montesanti, Stephanie
AU  - Ghidei, Winta
AU  - Silverstone, Peter
AU  - Wells, Lana
AU  - Squires, Suzanne
AU  - Bailey, Allan
TI  - Examining organization and provider challenges with the adoption of virtual domestic violence and sexual assault interventions in Alberta, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic 
PY  - 2022///
PB  - Sage, 
KW  - COVID-19
KW  - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
KW  - INTERVENTION
KW  - INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
KW  - ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE
KW  - PANDEMICS
KW  - SEXUAL VIOLENCE
KW  - SUPPORT SERVICES
KW  - TECHNOLOGY
KW  - INTERNATIONAL
KW  - CANADA
N1  - Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 2022, 27(3): 169-179
N2  - Objectives: In Canada, calls to domestic violence and sexual assault hotlines increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as stricter public health restrictions took effect in parts of the country. Moreover, the public health measures introduced to limit the transmission of COVID-19 saw many health providers abruptly pivot to providing services virtually, with little to no opportunity to plan for this switch. We carried out a qualitative research study to understand the resulting challenges experienced by providers of domestic violence and sexual assault support services.

Methods: Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather in-depth information from service providers and organizational leaders in the Canadian province of Alberta about the challenges they experienced adopting virtual and remote-based domestic violence and sexual assault interventions during the COVID-19 outbreak. Interview transcripts and field notes were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.

Results: Our findings highlighted multiple challenges organizations, service providers and clients experienced. These included: (1) systemic (macro-level) challenges pertaining to policies, legislation and funding availability, (2) organization and provider (meso-level) challenges related to adapting services and programmes online or for remote delivery and (3) provider perceptions of client (micro-level) challenges related to accessing virtual interventions.

Conclusions: Equity-focused policy and intersectional and systemic action are needed to enhance delivery and access to virtual interventions and services for domestic violence and sexual assault clients. (Authors' abstract). Record #7704
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/13558196221078796
ER  -