Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2008, 44: 92-98

A formal organisational change approach was used to implement the New Zealand Family Violence Intervention Guidelines in Hawke's Bay District Health Board.. The approach included obtaining senior management support, community collaboration, developing resources to support practice, research, evaluation and training. Formal pre–post evaluations were conducted of the training. Barriers and enablers of practice change were assessed through 85 interviews with 60 staff. More than 6000 clinical records were audited to assess rates of questioning for partner abuse. Identifications of partner abuse and referrals made were counted through the Family Violence Accessory File. Referrals to the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) were recorded routinely by the CYFS. Audits assessed quality of assessment of child and partner abuse, when identified. (from the abstract). Record #3931