NCJ Number
231244
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 34 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2010 Pages: 403-406
Date Published
June 2010
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study examined parental attitudes and perceptions of hospital care with respect to child abuse evaluations.
Abstract
The results of the study demonstrate perceived differences in hospital care in families who undergo evaluation for possible abuse that are not solely influenced by the decision to report a concern to child protective services. Families were less likely to feel that they were given thorough information, or treated honestly or respectfully when abuse was a consideration. Study results support anecdotal experience suggesting that families whose children are hospitalized with injuries suspected to be related to child maltreatment often feel as though they are mistreated by healthcare providers. To date, research examining attitudes within the medical system with respect to child abuse evaluations have focused on healthcare professionals. There has been no data on the experience of families who undergo child abuse evaluations in the medical setting, and how these evaluations affect their overall experience with the healthcare system. This study of 120 families of children younger than 6 years of age admitted to a children's hospital in 2005, examined the beliefs and attitudes of these families related to the hospital care of these children with respect to child abuse evaluations. Tables and references