What is Said and What is Understood? The Readability and Language of Child Protection Medical Reports

Abstract

Key Practitioner Messages Child protection medical reports provide the voice and opinion of a paediatrician, and must be readable by all. Child protection medical reports should include a professional opinion even if the opinion is one of being unsure. Simple measures can improve the readability of reports. A number of descriptive words are used in the opinions of reports. Standardisation of these could be encouraged to reduce misinterpretation.

Professional Knowledge, Skills and Beliefs in Safeguarding Children and Young People

“…Standardisation of these could be encouraged to reduce misinterpretation’. All professionals who write and read child protection reports are encouraged to read this paper and reflect on the statements considered ‘strong and certain’ and ‘ambiguous’ in child protection medical reports and review the examples given (Cutland et al ., , p. 162). This paper highlights that competencies in report writing are essential in child protection practice and a key element of good interagency communication.…”

“…In our final research paper, Michelle Cutland and colleagues () from Yorkshire and Humberside report on a study which examined the readability of child protection medical reports across five NHS trusts. The aim was also to provide an analysis of the language and descriptive words utilised by paediatricians when stating opinions in these reports.…”

“…Cutland et al . (, p. 159) note: ‘A number of descriptive words are used in the opinions of reports. Standardisation of these could be encouraged to reduce misinterpretation’.…”