title: Training program for Japanese medical personnel to combat child maltreatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2014, we created a training program for personnel in medical institutions in Japan to combat child maltreatment. The aim of the present study was to document the effectiveness of this program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a questionnaire before and after the training lecture. The questionnaire designed for the training program included demographic questions such years of practice and area of specialty (i.e. physician, nurse, social worker, public health nurse, technician, and others), as well as experience of suspected child maltreatment cases and training in dealing with such cases. The questionnaire included 15 statements designed to ascertain practical knowledge and attitudes relevant to addressing child maltreatment. Baseline score measured before the lecture was compared with that obtained after the lecture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 760 participants completed the survey, including 227 physicians, 223 nurses, 38 technologists, 27 social workers, 11 public health nurses, and 174 with other occupations, and 60 participants who left their occupation as blank. There was a significant difference between the baseline score of participants with versus without experience in suspected child maltreatment or training to deal with child maltreatment (F = 16.3; P < 0.001). After the lecture, the average score rose above the baseline (11.18 vs 10.57). The rate of correct answers for nine questionnaire items increased significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Professionals from a range of fields need clinical skills and judgement to decide if a child's injuries are due to maltreatment. The combination of increased clinical experience along with a high-quality didactic lecture, appears to be the most effective method of raising awareness and enhancing skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanoue
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Asahi General Hospital, Asahi, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Senda
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto City, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Byongmun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Yokohama City Western Child Consultation Center, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Midori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tasaki
authors.affiliation: Yokohama City Southern Child Consultation Center, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nishisaitama Chuo National Hospital, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oana
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumitake
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mizoguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Tokyo University of Technology, Hachiouji, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.affiliation: Child First Japan, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Fujiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okuyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kitakyushu City Yahata Hospital, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D015397:Program Evaluation
keywords: child abuse; detection; lecture; medical profession; reporting