Commitment, confidence, and concerns: Assessing health care professionals’ child maltreatment reporting attitudes

Foster, Rebecca; Olson-Dorff, Denyse; Reiland, Hannah M.; Budzak-Garza, Ann E

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.01.024

Cited by 38 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The results suggest that additional training is warranted in the dental health systems to ensure that children are being routinely assessed for maltreatment. This is also in line with other healthcare professionals (Foster et al, ). According to Foster et al () increased training tended to be a primary factor that favourably impacted confidence and reduced concerns when reporting to CWS.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…This is also in line with other healthcare professionals (Foster et al, ). According to Foster et al () increased training tended to be a primary factor that favourably impacted confidence and reduced concerns when reporting to CWS. Training could increase the accuracy of reports and decrease the barriers to reporting.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…In Norway, as in most other European countries, it is mandatory that health personnel who suspect a child is being seriously maltreated or abused report that concern to child welfare authorities. To reduce maltreatment and initiate interventions to secure and improve the child's situation, it is of paramount importance that child welfare services (CWS) are notified and receive a report of concern (Alvarez, Kenny, Donohue, & Carpin, ; Foster, Olson‐Dorff, Reiland, & Budzak‐Garza, ; Pietrantonio et al, ). In recent decades, there has been increased focus on the role of dental healthcare personnel in detecting and reporting signs of child maltreatment to CWS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lack of knowledge refers to lack of knowledge about referral procedures and lack of knowledge of signs of child maltreatment. However, the problem of underreporting and barriers to reporting occurs not only in dental health services but also across a variety of professions that work with children (Alvarez et al, ; Foster, et al, ; Sege & Flaherty, ). Based on a review of the literature on barriers to reporting to CWS among different professionals who work with children and are mandated to report suspected abuse, Alvarez et al () list the following barriers: lack of knowledge regarding signs and symptoms of abuse and reporting procedures, fear of negative consequences for the client, negative attitude towards Child Protection Services, and fear of negative consequences for professionals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Why are they reluctant to report? A study of the barriers to reporting to child welfare services among public dental healthcare personnel

Bjørknes

Iversen

Åstrøm

et al. 2018

Health Soc Care Community

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This study is a national cross-sectional survey, conducted in November 2014, of 366 dental hygienists and dentists who had suspected maltreatment but did not report it to Norwegian Child Welfare Services (CWS). The aims of the present paper are to identify the reasons why public dental healthcare professionals are reluctant to report suspected child maltreatment to CWS and to determine whether there are differences in the identified barriers according to socio-demographic variables. The questionnaire was based on earlier studies and was adapted to fit the Norwegian context. The most frequently chosen reason for not reporting was "unsure of own assessment" (90.4%). Thirteen items pertaining to not reporting were factorised into three factors of barriers. These factors were "insufficient knowledge of child maltreatment and reporting", "fear of the consequences for oneself and the dental clinic", and "fear of the consequences for the patient and their family". A t test revealed that public dental healthcare personnel who had not received training on maltreatment and reporting to CWS during their professional education scored significantly higher on the barrier "insufficient knowledge of child maltreatment and reporting" than did dental personnel who had received such training. Furthermore, dental personnel with more years of experience (11+) scored higher on this barrier than did dental personnel with less experience. No other significant differences in barriers were observed. Public dental healthcare personnel have a mandatory obligation to report to CWS if they suspect child maltreatment. Despite this obligation, the present study reveals that several barriers to reporting exist. This study underscores the importance of strengthening knowledge among dental hygienists and dentists about when and how to report, both during education and in clinical practice. K E Y W O R D Sbarriers, child welfare services, fear of consequences, insufficient knowledge, mandatory reporting, public dental healthcare personnel

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Why are they reluctant to report? A study of the barriers to reporting to child welfare services among public dental healthcare personnel

Bjørknes

Iversen

Åstrøm

et al. 2018

Health Soc Care Community

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…8 This results, in part, from providers who experience barriers to reporting suspected abuse to protective services, anxiety specific to reporting, and lack of training or ability to differentiate abuse from nonabuse. 9,10 Evidence indicates that 35% to 50% of child abuse cases recur without appropriate detection and intervention, suggesting that the inability to capture these cases can lead to a cycle of undetected child abuse. 11 The lack of screening and detection of child abuse or maltreatment in health care may be attributable to the unavailability of brief screening tools developed and validated for use in clinical settings.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

PedHITSS: A Screening Tool to Detect Childhood Abuse in Clinical Settings

Shakil

Day

Chu

et al. 2018

Fam Med

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Background and Objectives: Though child abuse is prevalent and detrimental, health care providers fail to screen for abuse at sufficient rates to detect or preempt events. Current child abuse screening tools lack brevity and usefulness in clinical settings. To validate the Pediatric Hurt-Insult-Threaten-Scream-Sex (PedHITSS) screening tool, a 5-item questionnaire designed to detect and prompt provider investigation into child abuse in clinical settings, the PedHITSS was compared to the Conflict Tactics Scale: Parent-Child Version (CTSPC) screening measure. Methods: Participants included 422 pediatric patients (n=242 nonabused; n=180 abused subsample) recruited from an ambulatory care setting, a medical center at-risk referral clinic, or homeless shelter clinic. Parents were asked to complete a cross-sectional survey, including PedHITSS and CTSPC questionnaires. Concurrent validity of PedHITSS was tested with 242 participants identified as nonabused. Construct validity was assessed with 180 participants previously identified as victims of child abuse. Results: Concurrent validity between the CTSPC and PedHITSS was strong, rs=.70 (P<.01). Sensitivity and specificity for correctly identifying abuse victims (≤12 years) was optimal at a cutpoint of one or greater. There was no significant difference in sensitivity and specificity of HITSS and CTSPC in correctly identifying victims of child abuse. Conclusions: This study indicates that PedHITSS performs as well as CTSPC in identifying and differentiating victims and nonvictims of child abuse. PedHITSS allows health care providers to confidently screen and report suspected cases of child abuse and serves as a mechanism to confirm abuse status through validated means.

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Home‐visiting mental health professionals' differentiations between acceptable and unacceptable parent discipline behaviours in Hong Kong: A q‐study

Lam

Bressington

2022

Child Abuse Review

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Home-visiting mental health professionals (HMHPs) have an important role in identifying suspected child maltreatment in the community. However, it is unclear how professionals in Hong Kong differentiate acceptable discipline behaviours from reportable forms of abuse, and how their characteristics may influence their view. This study examined HMHPs' views on acceptable versus unacceptable parent discipline behaviours. Using Q-methodology, 50 HMHPs in Hong Kong sorted 52 statements on parent discipline behaviours along a continuum ranging from 'Most Unacceptable' to 'Most Acceptable'. Byperson factor analysis was conducted to uncover prevailing views based on their sorts. Three unique viewpoints in differentiating discipline behaviours from abuse were uncovered, which varied based on how HMHPs prioritised children's physical safety, mental wellness and parental intention. Different views were supported by professionals with different characteristics and occupational backgrounds. K E Y W O R D S child abuse, discipline behaviour, parenting, corporal punishment, Q-methodology Key Practitioner Messages • Three unique viewpoints on differentiating parent discipline behaviours and child abuse were uncovered among 50 HMHPs. • These viewpoints were associated with different professional backgrounds and demographic characteristics. • Views on discipline versus abuse differed by the perceived risk of harm and intent of parent discipline behaviours.

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Commitment, confidence, and concerns: Assessing health care professionals’ child maltreatment reporting attitudes

Cited by 38 publications

References 29 publications

Why are they reluctant to report? A study of the barriers to reporting to child welfare services among public dental healthcare personnel

Why are they reluctant to report? A study of the barriers to reporting to child welfare services among public dental healthcare personnel

PedHITSS: A Screening Tool to Detect Childhood Abuse in Clinical Settings

Home‐visiting mental health professionals' differentiations between acceptable and unacceptable parent discipline behaviours in Hong Kong: A q‐study

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