Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Intimate partner violence associated with low quality of life  
 
Version: 2 Date: 15 Sep 2017  
 
Reviewer: Mashael Alshaikh  
 
Reviewer's report:  
Background section  
* In the second paragraph with reference [8], the text about the study is for  2006. However, 
refer ence [8] is from 2003. (2003,; 18;2:227 -238).  This need to be corrected  
* In the last paragraph there is a spelling mistake in Knowledge about psychical  
 
 Methods section  
* Two samples has been included, considering a case control may be more suitable.  
* If case - control is implemented matching should be considered.  
* In the inclusion criteria for women seeking help "paid work experience" was one of the 
criteria. If Paid work experience adds valuable information to the sample, then it should also 
be par t of the other samples.          
 
Analysis section  
* t-test was used to compare mean differences in HRQoL between the three groups (figure 1). 
As there are three means to compare it is recommended to use ANOVA.  
* Clarification where exactly you used post hoc analyses (Bonferroni tests).  
* The 'Only those who had been living with a partner' criteria mentioned in the analysis (1st 
paragraph), should also be added to the inclusion criteria as well.  
Results section   
* It will add value to the study to mention how many participants answered in English and 
Norwegian.  
* P values has been mentioned in then results "The abused women seeking help were 
significantly younger than the women in the general population". Howev er, P value should 
also be available in Table 1 with its descriptions and type of test used should be specified.  
* In Table 1, 1st column, do you mean psychological violence instead of "Physiological 
violence"?       
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is requir ed in your comments to the authors.  
No 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
Unable to assess  
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript : 
Needs some language c orrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaratio n of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, e ither now or in the future?  
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any paten ts relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other financial competing i nterests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open p eer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the aut hors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be inclu ded as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal