The variability of practice in interviews used by professionals to investigate child sexual abuse.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to examine: (1) the variability of interview practice among professionals who interview children to investigate suspected sexual abuse; (2) the relationship between interview practice and respondent characteristics; (3) the characteristics of interviewers who used the anatomically correct dolls in the course of their interviews.


METHODS
Sixty investigatory interviewers completed questionnaires focusing on professional background, training, and interview practice.


RESULTS
Interview practice varied considerably and some practices were at odds with the recommendations of the literature. Most of this variability was not accounted for by the respondent variables examined. Where there was evidence for an association, the interviewers' professional background, number of interviews conducted in the previous year, and whether or not they used the anatomically correct dolls appeared to influence practice, whereas general training and specific training in child sexual abuse had no significant effect. Only a minority (36%) used the anatomically correct dolls and none of the interviewer characteristics evaluated differentiated them from non doll-users.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample interview practices varied considerably and did not appear to be influenced by the interviewer's specific or general training. Further research is needed to focus on the comparative effectiveness of different interview techniques and the comparative effectiveness of different training programs in influencing interviewing practice.
Davey
R I
RI
Family Consultation Service, King's Lynn, UK.
Hill
J
J
D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D012108:Research Personnel; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires