CHILD ABUSE

Rationale
Prerequisites
Competencies

Rationale
Abuse may include physical, sexual and/or emotional trauma or may occur in the form of neglect when caregivers fail to provide basic physical, psychological or medical needs. Recognition of abuse or neglect can dramatically affect a child's life. Students and other health care providers need to understand the medical, legal, and social implications of suspected abuse and recognize the role of the physician in preventing child abuse and family violence, through routine assessment of family dynamics, early identification of children at risk, and cooperation with community services that support families.

Prerequisites

• Basic clinical data-gathering and communication skills with families and professionals.
• Knowledge of the epidemiology of domestic violence including those factors that increase the risk of domestic violence.

Competencies

Knowledge

1. List characteristics of the history and physical examination that should trigger concern for possible physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and neglect e.g. such as inconsistency in the history, unexplained delays in seeking care, injuries with specific patterns or distributions on the body, or injuries incompatible with the child's development. (CP)
2. Describe the medical-legal importance of a full, detailed, carefully documented history and physical examination in the evaluation of child abuse. (CP)
3. Discuss the concurrence of domestic violence and child abuse and describe markers that suggest the occurrence of family violence. (U)
4. Describe the unique communication skills required to work with families around issues of maltreatment. (M)
5. Summarize the responsibilities of the "mandatory reporter" to identify and report suspected child abuse. Know to whom such a report should be made. (M)

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