Recognizing and reporting domestic violence: attitudes, experiences and behavior of Dutch dentists

BMC Oral Health

Research Article

Wil J. M. van der Sanden¹  Brigitte A. F. M. van Dam²  Josef J. M. Bruers³ 

[1] Department of Quality and Safety of Oral Health Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, College of Oral Science, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;Department of Research & Information, Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT), Nieuwegein, The Netherlands;Department of Research & Information, Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT), Nieuwegein, The Netherlands;Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;

关键词: GDP;    Domestic violence;    Mandatory reporting code;    Attitudes;    Behaviors;    Knowledge;    Education;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12903-015-0141-4

 received in 2015-07-30, accepted in 2015-11-26,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundOn July 1st 2013 the Mandatory Reporting Code Act came into force in the Netherlands, making it compulsory for health professionals to adhere to a reporting code when they suspect patients to be victims of domestic violence (DV) or child abuse (CA). The Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT) developed a reporting code for dental professionals (RCD). Moreover, an e-learning module about DV has been developed. A web-survey was conducted to investigate how general dental practitioners (GDPs) deal with the RCD and what their experiences are with (signs of) DV and CA.MethodsIn April 2014 1038 GDPs were invited by e-mail to participate in a web-survey consisting of 24 items, through the KNMT Data Stations Project. The data was analyzed using SPSS (RELIABILITY, CHISQ and ANOVA).ResultsOf all GDPs invited to participate 264 (25 %) responded. 82 % of these GDPs are aware of their obligation to use the reporting code. 54 % of the GDPs are in favor of this obligation. 76 % of the GDPs have taken notice of the KNMT’s RCD and 51 % of the GDPs have implemented the reporting code in one form or another in their practice. 24 % of the GDPs stated having suspected DV during the last twelve months in the case of 2.4 patients on average. 81 % took note of this in the patient’s record and 58 % also took action in different ways. 54 % wants to complete the e-learning module.ConclusionsMost GDPs are aware of the new legislation and have taken cognizance of the RCD. Even though the majority of GDPs are not opposed to using a reporting code, over half of them have not yet implemented the code in practice. An important factor in this regard seems to be that a substantial minority of the GDPs says they are not sufficiently informed about aspects of reporting a case and about the steps they have to take.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© van Dam et al. 2015