Citation

Diderich HM, Fekkes M, Dechesne M, Buitendijk SE, Oudesluys-Murphy AM. Int. Emerg. Nurs. 2014; 23(2): 203-206.

Affiliation

Social Pediatrics, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ienj.2014.09.004

PMID

25449550

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The Hague Protocol is used by professionals at the adult Emergency Departments (ED) in The Netherlands to detect child abuse based on three parental characteristics: (1) domestic violence, (2) substance abuse or (3) suicide attempt or self-harm. After detection, a referral is made to the Reporting Center for Child Abuse and Neglect (RCCAN). This study investigates whether implementing this Protocol will lead parents to avoid medical care.

METHOD: We compared the number of patients (for whom the Protocol applied) who attended the ED prior to implementation with those attending after implementation. We conducted telephone interviews (n = 14) with parents whose children were referred to the RCCAN to investigate their experience with the procedure.

RESULTS: We found no decline in the number of patients, included in the Protocol, visiting the ED during the 4 year implementation period (2008-2011). Most parents (n = 10 of the 14 interviewed) were positive and stated that they would, if necessary, re-attend the ED with the same complaints in the future.

CONCLUSION: ED nurses and doctors referring children based on parental characteristics do not have to fear losing these families as patients.

Language: en