The effect of a training course in child abuse on the attitudes of general practitioners to the handling of such cases

Abstract

This study was done to test the hypothesis that medical practitioners lacked the confidence to get involved in child abuse management because of lack of previous training in the discipline. Questionnaires were administered to a group of medical practitioners to assess their attitude to their role in the management of child abuse, their perception of their knowledge of the physical findings in child abuse and their ability to manage the problem. It was found that although practitioners recognized the importance of their role in child abuse management they lacked confidence in their knowledge of the physical findings of child abuse and their ability to manage the problem. The main factor found to be responsible for the reluctance of practitioners to deal with child abuse was a lack of training at both under and postgraduate level. The practitioners suggested that improved training at undergraduate level is the most effective means of improving the medical management of child abuse. A subgroup of the practitioners were exposed to a short correspondence course in the management of child abuse. The experimental group showed a positive trend in theii perception of their ability to manage child abuse and their knowledge of the physical features of child abuse. Based on these findings it is recommended that further research be done into the most effective methods of training doctors in child abuse management.