Background: Domestic abuse (DA) is often overlooked in general practice, despite primary care’s pivotal role. While screening
improves early detection, it is not standard in primary care. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the potential integration
of a brief DA screening tool into primary care and explore the association between abuse histories and WAST-Short scores,
controlling for demographics in Northwest London. Methods: An e-Survey with 29 items, translated into 18 languages, was
sent to eligible NHS patients (aged 18 years and older) identified by general practices between 3 March and 7 October 2022
via SMS. It included questions about DA experiences, with the WAST-Short screening questionnaire used to assess tension in
relationships and difficulty resolving arguments. Regression analysis examined the relationship between WAST-Short scores
and abuse history. Results: Seventeen general practices participated, with 6,967 patients clicking the survey link and 4,253
(61%) completing it. Nearly half reported DA experiences, while 6.1% declined disclosure. After adjusting for age, gender, and
ethnicity, the multivariable logistic regression model revealed that individuals who disclosed a history of abuse or preferred not
to had significantly higher odds of experiencing tension in relationships and difficulty resolving arguments compared to those
with no history of abuse. Conclusion: This study underscores the potential of DA screening in primary care, particularly for
those hesitant to disclose abuse. The WAST-Short tool offers a non-intrusive means of early identification. However, successful
implementation requires adequate training and resources for primary care practitioners.