NCJ Number
156878
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 19 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 1031-1038
Date Published
1995
Length
8 pages
Annotation
To increase their knowledge of the medical evaluation and reporting of child sexual abuse, medical students, pediatric resident physicians, fellows, and attendings took part in an interdisciplinary team-based training program consisting of didactic lectures, case discussions, videotapes, and direct participation in patient evaluation.
Abstract
The training content focused on the medical knowledge and skills needed for an assessment of the child's interview, anogenital examination, and the indications for case reporting to child protection authorities. The results of the training were evaluated using data from a program conducted in an outpatient child abuse clinic located in a university-affiliated municipal hospital. Data were collected by means of a survey assessing knowledge of female genital anatomy, sexually-acquired diseases, and case reporting. A nonrandomized control trial was used, which compared 15 medical students and pediatric physicians with a reference group of 127 participants who did not receive the training and 15 others who randomly repeated the survey instrument during the study period. Results revealed that resident physicians demonstrated increased average total scores in the survey instrument. Findings indicated that an interdisciplinary team using patient care exposure increases physician knowledge in the evaluation of child sexual abuse. Tables, figure, and 24 references (Author abstract modified)