Abstract
The number of child abuse and neglect cases continues to rise annually in Japan. Corresponding individuals oblige to identify, prevent and treat the abuse of children with interprofessional collaboration. Few studies have examined the attitude and needs of child maltreatment among emergency medical crews.
This study aimed to identify experience and perception about child maltreatment among emergency medical crews in Kagawa, Japan.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted to emergency medical crews.
Of 1167 eligible crews sent a questionnaire, 561 responded. 426 (76%) participants answered that they did not know the 4 categories of maltreatment (physical, sexual, psychological and neglect). 190 (34%) had received any education regarding child maltreatment. 108 (19%) had experienced handling suspected child maltreatment cases. The concerns of crews encompassed early detection of child maltreatment and to act appropriately for guardians. They reported deficiencies in critical knowledge regarding identification of cases of child maltreatment. They asked for additional education, systems and manuals for handling suspected child maltreatment cases with interprofessional collaboration.
These deficiencies should be addressed in developing the proper educational programs including case study and the exact reporting mechanism with interprofessional collaboration.
