Citation

Rogers SC, Borrup K, Parikh C, Saleheen H, Lapidus G, Smith S. J. Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012; 73(9 Suppl 3): S243-S247.

Affiliation

From the Injury Prevention Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, Connecticut.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/TA.0b013e31826b0040

PMID

23026961

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Youth violence is a significant public health concern. Many children and adolescents are treated in emergency departments (EDs), which may be a location to identify at-risk youth for interventions by administering a screening instrument. METHODS: A prospective convenience study of youth (ages 8-17 years) presenting to the ED was conducted to evaluate a second-generation violence questionnaire. The 14 items of the Violence Prevention Emergency Tool 2 (VPET 2) was developed from a previously described tool (VPET 1). VPET 2 asked the frequency of physical or verbal violence events witnessed or experienced by the subject and was administered in the ED by research assistants. RESULTS: Of the 211 youths, 200 were enrolled (95% participation rate); 3 were ineligible, and 8 declined (<4%). The youths had a mean age 13.3 years, 52.5% males, 39% Hispanic, and 17% black. Seventy-six percent of the legal guardians were mothers, 62.5% had at least a high school education, and 55% were working full time. Sixty-six percent of the subjects reported seeing a person slap another person "really hard;" 8.5% were threatened by someone with a weapon; 28% were physically harmed by another person; 10% reported drug/alcohol use; 32.5% had failed a class in the past year. Adolescents (13-17 years) compared with preadolescents (8-12 years) were more likely to report being threatened and/or physically harmed (p < 0.05). No significant sex differences were identified. CONCLUSION: VPET 2 was administered in an ED with a high rate of enrollment and completion. This may be a feasible screening tool for use in the ED for determining which youth have the highest levels of violence exposure. A brief validated version of VPET 2 could be a valuable tool in ensuring that youth most at-risk are identified and provided appropriate referrals and services. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic study, level IV.

Language: en