ISSN:
1437-9813
Keywords:
Child abuse
;
Diagnosis
;
Pediatric surgery unit
;
Incidence
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract In a 3 $${\raise0.5ex\hbox{$\scriptstyle 1$}\kern-0.1em/\kern-0.15em\lower0.25ex\hbox{$\scriptstyle 2$}}$$ -month prospective study, all inpatients seen at the department of pediatric surgery of a children's hospital were examined for child abuse and neglect. Of 815 children admitted, 749 (91.7%) were included in the study. Two different methods of case definition were applied: the first involved a theoretical model containing a decision tree. The physician recorded the child's signs and symptoms and rated the plausibility of the history given. At the end of the study period a “technical diagnosis” was made. With this approach 7 children (0.9%) were classified as abused or neglected. Cases were also defined by having the physician decide at the time of admission whether child abuse was possible or could be excluded (“clinical diagnosis”). With this procedure 10 children (1.3%) were judged to be abused or neglected; 13 children (1.7%) were found by combining both methods. The validity of these two diagnostic approaches was ascertained by comparing the results with the degree of certainty of the clinicians' assessment and by describing the type of injuries the children had. The decision tree appears to be a useful tool for identifying abused and neglected children. We recommend thorough assessment of all suspected cases.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00178828
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