Citation

Mohd Mydin FH, Othman S, Choo WY, Hairi NNM, Hairi FM, Syed Karim SN, Tan MP, Ali Z, Abdul Aziz S, Mohd R, Ramli R, Mohamad R, Awaludin LR, Adnan Z. J. Elder Abuse Negl. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Selangor Department of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08946566.2020.1731640

PMID

32085693

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the primary care doctors' ability to recognize elder maltreatment and their intentions to report on such conditions. About 358 primary care doctors participated in this study. Outcomes were assessed using a validated five context-relevant clinical vignettes. Primary care doctor's recognition of sexual abuse was highest (91.0%); while the lowest (70.2%) in case signifying physical abuse. Despite being able to ascertain elder maltreatment, the intention to report the event is generally low even for cases exemplifying physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. However, intentions to report cases of sexual and financial abuse are 86.9% and 73.5% respectively.

FINDINGS highlighted the uncertainties of primary care doctors in distinguishing the clinical findings of non-accidental injuries and injuries due to acts of maltreatment. This provides support for educational intervention and guidelines or policies to improve the knowledge and skills of primary care doctors to intervene in elder maltreatment.

Language: en

Keywords

Primary care doctor; elder maltreatment; recognition; reporting; vignette