Faculty Collaboration Database

Interdisciplinary collaboration needed in obtaining high-quality medical information in child abuse investigations. Child Abuse Negl 2019 Jun;92:167-178

Date

04/19/2019

Pubmed ID

30999166

Pubmed Central ID

PMC6513678

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.02.012

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85064630494 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   13 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite reporting legislation, healthcare providers (HCPs) do not always report and collaborate in cases of suspected child abuse. Recognizing this leaves children at risk, the Wisconsin Child Abuse Network (WI CAN) sought to understand barriers to mandated reporting and collaboration with child abuse investigators.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate barriers for professionals in providing and obtaining high-quality medical information in child abuse investigations.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants included five discipline-specific focus groups: HCPs, child protective services (CPS), law enforcement, lawyers, and judges. All professionals had been directly involved in Wisconsin child abuse cases.

METHODS: This qualitative study consisted of discipline-specific focus groups, directed by open-ended interview questions. Data analysis was completed through the narrative inquiry methodology.

RESULTS: Barriers to providing and obtaining high-quality medical information in child abuse investigations were both discipline-specific and universal amongst all groups. Discipline-specific barriers included: HCPs' discomfort with uncertainty; CPS' perception of disrespect and mistrust by HCPs; law enforcement's concerns with HCPs' overstepping professional boundaries; lawyers' concern of HCPs' discomfort with court proceedings; and judges' perception of a lack of understanding between all disciplines. Universal barriers included: value of high-quality medical information in child abuse investigations, burden of time and money; unequal resources between counties; a need for protocols, and a need for interdisciplinary collaboration.

CONCLUSION: Findings from this study suggest several ways to address identified barriers. Possible interventions include equalizing resources between urban and rural counties (specifically financial resources and access to child abuse experts); protocolizing reporting and investigations; and, increasing interprofessional education.

Author List

Cleek EA, Johnson NL, Sheets LK

Authors

Elizabeth Cleek in the CTSI department at Medical College of Wisconsin - CTSI
Elizabeth Cleek PhD Assistant Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Norah Johnson PhD Assistant Professor in the College ofnursing department at Marquette University
Lynn Sheets MD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Attitude of Health Personnel
Child
Child Abuse
Child Protective Services
Cooperative Behavior
Female
Focus Groups
Health Personnel
Health Resources
Humans
Interprofessional Relations
Lawyers
Male
Medical Informatics
Qualitative Research
Rural Health
Uncertainty
Urban Health
Wisconsin