Perceived competence and cognitive bias in nurses' assessment of intimate partner violence: a cross-sectional study

Introduction Intimate partner violence (IPV) represents a complex social and health problem that requires multidisciplinary responses. Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, play a key role in the identification and management of IPV cases. However, limited training and potential cognitive biases may affect professional assessment and intervention. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 202 nursing professionals in Spain. Perceived competence in IPV management was evaluated using the validated Intimate Partner Violence Competency Scale for Nurses (ECVPE), which assesses four dimensions: intervention and referral, detection and assessment of abuse, documentation and record-keeping, and psychosocial support. Descriptive statistics, Student's t -tests, and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze differences according to sociodemographic variables. Results The lowest levels of perceived competence were observed in the intervention and referral dimension (M = 2.45), while the highest scores were found in psychosocial support (M = 3.36). Professional experience was the only variable significantly associated with perceived competence in the dimensions of detection and documentation of abuse. Additionally, most participants conceptualized IPV primarily as violence against women in heterosexual relationships, indicating the presence of perceptual biases that may influence professional assessment. Conclusions Nursing professionals reported heterogeneous levels of perceived competence in IPV management, with notable gaps in intervention and referral processes. The results highlight the need for training strategies that strengthen professional competencies while addressing implicit biases in the interpretation of violence within intimate relationships.