Title
Detecting child abuse based on parental characteristics: Does The Hague Protocol cause parents to avoid the Emergency Department?
Author
Diderich, H.M.
Fekkes, M.
Dechesne, M.
Buitendijk, S.E.
Oudesluys-Murphy, A.M.
Publication year
2015
Abstract
Objectives: The Hague Protocol is used by professionals at the adult Emergency Departments (ED) in The Netherlands to detect child abuse based on three parental characteristics: (1) domestic violence, (2) substance abuse or (3) suicide attempt or self-harm. After detection, a referral is made to the Reporting Center for Child Abuse and Neglect (RCCAN). This study investigates whether implementing this Protocol will lead parents to avoid medical care. Method: We compared the number of patients (for whom the Protocol applied) who attended the ED prior to implementation with those attending after implementation. We conducted telephone interviews (n = 14) with parents whose children were referred to the RCCAN to investigate their experience with the procedure. Results: We found no decline in the number of patients, included in the Protocol, visiting the ED during the 4 year implementation period (2008-2011). Most parents (n = 10 of the 14 interviewed) were positive and stated that they would, if necessary, re-attend the ED with the same complaints in the future. Conclusion: ED nurses and doctors referring children based on parental characteristics do not have to fear losing these families as patients. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Subject
Life
CH - Child Health
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Healthy for Life
Health
Healthy Living
Avoiding medical care
Child abuse
Detecting child abuse
Parental characteristics
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:e9d8ce81-1b23-4070-b69a-7d61309d3e5a
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2014.09.004
TNO identifier
524741
ISSN
1755-599X
Source
International Emergency Nursing, 23 (2), 203-206
Document type
article