The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services (한국응급구조학회지)

The Korea Society of Emergency Medical Services (한국응급구조학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Perception of child abuse and attitudes towards mandatory reporting among 119 emergency medical technicians

119구급대원의 아동학대 인식 및 신고의무태도에 관한 연구

  • Kim, Tae-Hyun (Yeongam 119 Safety Center, Yeongam Fire Station) ;
  • Cho, Keun-Ja (Department of Emergency Medical Service, Kongju National University)
  • Received : 2019.07.14
  • Accepted : 2019.08.18
  • Published : 2019.08.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess 119 emergency medical technicians' perception of child abuse, attitudes towards mandatory reporting, and perceptions of mandatory reporting system, and to promote early reporting. Methods: The questionnaire was filled out by one hundred ninety 119 EMTs with paramedic or nurse licenses. The questionnaire consisted of 53 items with responses based on a five-point scale. Data were collected from July 10 to July 31, 2018, and were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24.0 software. Results: The average score for 119 EMT's perception of child abuse was 3.76. The average score for positive attitude towards mandatory reporting was 3.63, and the average score for negative attitude towards mandatory reporting was 2.63. The average score for perceptions of the mandatory reporting system was 3.50. There was a significant positive correlation between perception of child abuse and positive attitude towards mandatory reporting (r=.244, p=.001), between perception of child abuse and perceptions of the mandatory reporting system (r=.209, p=.004), and between positive attitude towards mandatory reporting and perceptions of mandatory reporting system (r=.336, p=.000). Conclusion: Systemic educational programs for 119 EMTs on perception of child abuse and reporting are needed. It is very important to establish institutional strategies such as the use of checklist for suspicion of child abuse, procedural simplicity after reporting, and protection of reporter information.

Keywords

References

  1. National law information center. The children's Welfare Law. http://www.law.go.kr/lsInfoP.do?lsiSeq=205633&efYd=20190612#0000
  2. Kim KS. A study on the influence of child abuse on children's mental health. Unpublished master's thesis, Kyeonggi University 2009, Suwon, Korea.
  3. National law information center. The 119 Law. http://www.law.go.kr/lsInfoP.do?lsiSeq=200188&efYd=20180627#0000
  4. Alphonso A, Auerbach M, Bechtel K, Bilodeau K, Gawel M, Koziel J. et al. Tiyyagura, GK. Development of a child abuse checklist to evaluate prehospital provider performance. Prehospital Emergency Care 2016;21(2):222-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2016.1229824
  5. Weintraub B, Lazzara P, Fuchs S, Wiltsek DL. Child maltreatment awareness for prehospital providers. International Journal of Trauma Nursing 2002;8(3):81-3. https://doi.org/10.1067/mtn.2002.126365
  6. Brady M.. UK paramedics confidence in identifying child sexual abuse: a mixed-methods investigation. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 2018;27(4):439-58. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1477223
  7. King BR, Baker MD, Ludwig SR. Reporting of child abuse by prehospital personnel. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1993;8(01): 67-8. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x00040036
  8. Kim SI. The effects of child maltreatment prevention education on the intention to report child maltreatment among future mandatory reporters: the mediating effects of knowledge of recognizing and reporting child maltreatment. Korean Journal of Social Welfare 2017;55:373-400.
  9. Child abuse & Neglect Korea 2017. Ministry of Health and Welfare. http://www.korea1391.go.kr/new/page/sts_child.php
  10. Kim JJ. A study on teacher's perception on abused young children in now socioeconomic status areas. Unpublished master's thesis, Ewha Womans University 1987, Seoul, Korea.
  11. Yang LA. The effects of child welfare institute's workers child abuse cognition on their reporting obligations attitudes : focused child care facilities in Seoul. Unpublished master's thesis, Kyunghee University 2016, Seoul, Korea.
  12. An JJ. Influencing factors on attitude toward child abuse reporting among parents of student in Seoul. Unpublished master's thesis, Seoul National University 2002, Seoul, Korea.
  13. Seo YK. Influence factor on reporting intention of reporting obligator on child abuse. Unpublished master's thesis, Sookmyung Women's University 2004, Seoul, Korea.
  14. Kang JY. A study on the perception of social welfare advocacy official on the duty for reporting child abuse. Unpublished master's thesis, Chungang university 2002, Seoul, Korea.
  15. Kanak M, Avci N. The effect of the training program to promote the knowledge and awareness of prospective preschool teachers on emotional neglect and abuse. Asian Journal of Education and Training 2018;4(2):137-45. https://doi.org/10.20448/journal.522.2018.42.137.145
  16. Jang IS. Childcare teacher's awareness of child abuse relationship with child abuse reporting attitude. Unpublished master's thesis, Seoul Christian University 2017, Seoul, Korea.
  17. Heo NS. The factors that affect the reporting behavior of mandated reporter. Korean Journal of Social Welfare 2003;53:209-30.
  18. Kenny MC. Teachers' attitudes toward and knowledge of child maltreatment. Child Abuse & Neglect 2004;28:1311-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.06.010
  19. Park HY, Choi EJ, Lee EN. Intention to report child abuse of emergency room nurse. Journal of Critical Care Nursing 2013;6(2): 1-11.
  20. Pölkki PL, Vornanen RH. Role and success of Finnish early childhood education and care in supporting child welfare clients : perspectives from parents and professionals. Early Childhood Educational Journal 2016;44(5): 581-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-015-0746-x
  21. Lee HM, Kim JS. Predictors of intention of reporting child abuse among emergency nurses. J Pediatr Nurs 2018;38:e47-e52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2017.10.007
  22. Falkiner M, Thomson D, Day A. Teachers' understanding and practice of mandatory reporting of child maltreatment. Children Australia 2017;42(1):38-48. https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2016.53
  23. McTavish JR, Kimber M, Devries K, Colombini M, MacGregor JCD, Wathen N et al. Children's and caregivers' perspectives about mandatory reporting of child maltreatment: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. BMJ Open 2019;9:e025741. https://doi.org/10.1136/ bmjopen-2018-025741
  24. Natan MB, Faour C, Naamhah S, Grinberg K, Klein-Kremer A. Factors affecting medical and nursing staff reporting of child abuse. International Nursing Review 2012; 59(3):331-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-7657.2012.00988.x
  25. Schols MWA, de Ruiter C, Ory FG. How do public child healthcare professionals and primary school teachers identify and handle child abuse cases? A qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2013;13:807. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-807
  26. National Fire Agency 119 annual statistics of EMS. 2017, http://www.nfa.go.kr/nfa/releaseinformation/statisticalinformation/main/;jsessionid=3bek6+zADLGEn2A6Yc-WNBp2.nfa22?boardId=bbs_0000000000000019&mode=view&cntId=15&category=&pageIdx=&searchCondition=&searchKeyword=