Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess knowledge and attitudes towards physical child abuse among pediatricians and family physicians in northern Israel. Methods: An interview consisting of multiple choice questions and vignettes were employed. A stratified sample of 107 physicians from hospitals and community clinics and of different disciplines and educational cultural backgrounds was surveyed. Results: Child abuse diagnosis was considered infrequently or not at all by 43% of the participants and a proportion of them were hesitant in their reporting intentions. A low consistency in the approach to diagnosis and management was found. Medical discipline, sex and age of the physician as well as level of knowledge and the family's socioeconomic status were not significantly related to reporting behaviors. A significant effect of medical training/cultural background (p = 0.01) and medical discipline (p = 0.04) on knowledge of child abuse were found. No relationship between knowledge and reporting behaviour was found. Conclusion: The results of this study are a reason for concern. A more active role of medical schools and health administrations in abuse- oriented education and training effort is required, particularly in societies in transition.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Caffey J. Multiple fractures in the long bones of infants suffering from chronic subdural haematoma. A. J. Roentgenology 1046, 56: 162–173.
Kempe CJ, Silverman FN, Steele BF, Droegmueller W, Silver HK. The battered child syndrome. J Am Med Assoc 1962; 181: 17–24.
Hobbs CJ, Hanks HG, Wynne JM. Child abuse and neglect. A clinician's handbood. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh 1993; pp 1–8.
Belsky J. Child Maltreatment: An ecological integration. Am Psycholo 1980; 35: 320–335.
Strauss MA, Yodanis LC. Physical abuse, in Strauss MA (ed) Beating the devil out of them, corporal punishment in American families. Lexington Books N.Y. 1994, pp 81–96.
Woolf A, Taylor L, Melmicoe L, Andolesek K, Dubowitz H, De Vos E, Newberger E. What residents know about child abuse. Am J Dis Child 1988; 142: 668–671.
Chang A, Oglesby AC, Wallace L. Child abuse and neglect-physician's knowledge attitude and experience. Am J Public Health 1976; 66: 1199–1201.
Landson S, Johnson CF, Doty RE. Do physicians recognize sexual abuse? Am J Dis Child 1982; 141: 411–415.
Morris JL, Johnson CF, Clasen M. To report or not to report-physician's attitude toward discipline and child abuse. Am J Dis Child 1985; 139: 194–197.
Dubowitz H. Child abuse program and pediatric residency training. Pediatrics 1988; 82: 477–480.
Nelson WF, Behrnan RE, Vaughan VC. Nelson Text Book of Pediatrics 13th edn W.B. Saunders Company Philadelphia 1987, pp 120–125.
Sugg KN, Inui T. Primary care physicians' response to domestic violence. J Am Med Ass 1991; 267: 3157–3160.
Wayman-Sanders R. Resistance to dealing with parents of battered children. Pediatrics 1973; 50: 853–857.
Soulsbary FT, Campbell RE. Evaluation of child abuse. Am J Dis Child 1986; 139: 343–393.
Silver LB, Barton W, Dublin CC. Child abuse laws-are they enough? J Am Med Ass 1967; 199: 65–68.
Davies DP, Evans I, Lloyd-Richards R, Verrier Jones ER. Improving awareness of ethical issues. Arch Dis Child 1996; 74: 172–175.
Reece RM (ed). The pediatric clinics of North America. W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia 1990, pp 791–1011.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Offer-Shechter, S., Tirosh, E. & Cohen, A. Physical abuse – physicians knowledge and reporting attitude in Israel. Eur J Epidemiol 16, 53–58 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007662708871
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007662708871