Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of training first year medical students using a Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST) elective course. The 9-month course was taught by a multidisciplinary group of professionals and addressed prevention, identification, reporting, and responding to all forms of child and adolescent maltreatment. It was hypothesized that, relative to students in a comparison group, students who completed the elective course would report being significantly more prepared to identify signs of maltreatment, to report a case of suspected maltreatment, and to recommend or secure needed services for a maltreated child or adolescent, more likely to report suspected maltreatment, even if they did not know for sure it happened, and demonstrate improved knowledge in the areas of maltreatment identification and reporting. Results supported all five of the study’s hypotheses and indicate that the CAST program may be an effective method of better preparing future physicians to address child and adolescent maltreatment.
Appendix A
An 18-year-old female with developmental disabilities (severe mental retardation) attends her annual physical exam. During the appointment, the girl’s mother talks about how stressed she has been as she struggles to work three jobs in order to make ends meet while trying to tend to the constant special needs of her teenager. She also mentions that finding someone to stay with the girl while she goes to work has been problematic. Mother mentions that the girl often stays home alone while she is at work.
Is this child being maltreated (Please circle one) Yes No
Would you report this case to Children’s Services (circle one)? Yes No
Appendix B
A 15-year-old girl comes in for a physical to get medical clearance to play soccer for her high school. During the visit, the teenager asks the physician for advice about a situation that happened at her friend’s house the last two weekends. She explains that her friend’s step-father has been watching pornography and does not allow the girls to leave the room. The teenager says that she feels uncomfortable because her friend’s step-father touches his private parts while watching the pornography.
Is this child being maltreated (Please circle one) Yes No
Would you report this case to Children’s Services (circle one)? Yes No
Appendix C
A 20-year-old male with transverse myelitis is seen for a regular check-up. The young man relies on a wheelchair for mobility and has to depend on his father’s girlfriend when he wishes to leave the home. His father reports that his son recently admitted to showing his penis to his father’s girlfriend on several occasions. Per father’s report, the young man told his father he did not want to show his penis, but he only does it because his father’s girlfriend refuses to take him to the store if he does not follow her sexual requests.
Is this child being maltreated (Please circle one) Yes No
Would you report this case to Children’s Services (circle one)? Yes No
Appendix D
The mother of a 12-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy reports that her ex-husband has been threatening to lock her children in the dark basement for the weekend with no food if they continue to refuse to eat dinner while at his house every other weekend. While mother is explaining her concerns, the girl interjects and says, “He really will do it, too – he did it to Kris before!” Mother reports that Kris is her children’s half-sibling.
Is this child being maltreated (Please circle one) Yes No
Would you report this case to Children’s Services (circle one)? Yes No
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