title: Development of a policy-relevant child maltreatment research strategy.
abstract: Child maltreatment is associated with a huge burden of suffering, yet there are serious gaps in knowledge about its epidemiology and approaches to intervention. This article describes the development of a proposed national research framework in child maltreatment, as requested by the Department of Justice, Canada, based on (1) a review of the literature, (2) consultation with experts, and (3) application of evaluation criteria for considering research priorities. The article identifies gaps in knowledge about child maltreatment in Canada and proposes a research agenda to make evidence-based policy decisions more likely. Although this work was driven by gaps in Canada's knowledge about child maltreatment, the international scope of the review and consultation process could make the findings useful to broader research and policy audiences.
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. macmilnh@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Harriet L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: MacMillan
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: C Nadine
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Wathen
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Omura
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lodenquai
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011050:Policy Making; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration