title: A national survey on the use of screening tools to detect physical child abuse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recognition of physical child abuse is imperative for ensuring children's safety. Screening tools (ST) may increase identification of physical abuse; however, the extent of their use is unknown. This study assessed use of STs for physical abuse in children's hospitals and determined attitudes regarding STs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based survey was sent to child abuse program contacts at 103 children's hospitals. The survey assessed institutional use of a ST for physical abuse and characteristics of the ST used. Respondents were asked to identify benefits and liabilities of STs used or barriers to ST use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-two respondents (70 %) completed the survey; most (64 %) were child abuse pediatricians. Nine (13 %) respondents reported using a ST for physical abuse; STs varied in length, population, administration, and outcomes of a positive screen. Most respondents (86 %) using a ST felt that it increased detection of abuse. Barriers noted included lack of time for development and provider completion of a ST.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While few respondents endorsed use of a ST for physical abuse, most believed that it increased detection of abuse. Future research should focus on development of a brief, uniform ST for physical abuse which may increase detection in at-risk children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Family Advocacy, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 655 E Livingston Ave, Columbus, 43205, OH, United States. kristin.crichton@nationwidechildrens.org.
authors.forename: Kristin Garton
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Crichton
authors.affiliation: Center for Surgical Outcomes Research and the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Childrens Drive, Columbus, 43205, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Center for Surgical Outcomes Research and the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Childrens Drive, Columbus, 43205, OH, United States.|Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Childrens Drive, Columbus, 43205, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Minneci
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Childrens Drive, Columbus, 43205, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Jonathan I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Groner
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Family Advocacy, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 655 E Livingston Ave, Columbus, 43205, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Thackeray
authors.affiliation: Center for Surgical Outcomes Research and the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Childrens Drive, Columbus, 43205, OH, United States.|Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Childrens Drive, Columbus, 43205, OH, United States.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Deans
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: Child abuse; Emergency department; Non-accidental trauma; Screening; Trauma assessment