Nursing College Students’ Perceptions of Child Abuse A Comparison of Freshmen and Sophomores Using a—Vignette Survey—

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the characteristics of the perceptions of child abuse among nursing undergraduates by comparing freshmen and sophomores.

Methods: An anonymous self administered Google Forms questionnaire was administered to 98 freshmen and 108 sophomores, of which 69 (70.4%) and 80 (74.4%), respectively, were analyzed.

Results: 149 (72.3%) responded. The results showed that among the basic attribute items, there were significant differences in whether they reported liking children, such that sophomores were less likely to. But scored significantly higher on both the neglect and psychological abuse items, indicating that they were more aware of abuse.

Conclusion: These results suggest that it is important to continuously emphasize rights protection in not just pediatric nursing but all areas of nursing, to impart correct knowledge and increase awareness of abuse, and to educate students to increase their empathy and sociability and enhance their positive interest in children.