The dilemma of reporting suspicions of child maltreatment in pediatric dentistry.
This study examined the factors that lead specialists in pediatric dentistry to suspect child abuse or neglect and the considerations that influence the decision to report these suspicions to social services. Focus group discussions were used to identify new aspects of child maltreatment suspicion and reporting. Such discussions illuminate the diversity of informants' experiences, opinions, and reflections. Focus groups included 19 specialists and postgraduate students in pediatric dentistry. We conducted video-recorded focus group discussions at the informants' dental clinics. All sessions lasted approximately 1.5 h. We transcribed the discussions verbatim and studied the transcripts using thematic analysis, a method well-suited to evaluating the experiences discussed and how the informants understand them. The analysis process elicited key concepts and identified one main theme, which we labeled 'the dilemma of reporting child maltreatment'. We found this dilemma to pervade a variety of situations and divided it into three sub-themes: to support or report; differentiating concern for well-being from maltreatment; and the supportive or unhelpful consultation. Reporting a suspicion about child maltreatment seems to be a clinical and ethical dilemma arising from concerns of having contradicting professional roles, difficulties confirming suspicions of maltreatment, and perceived shortcomings in the child-protection system.
['Kvist|Therese|T|', 'Wickström|Anette|A|', 'Miglis|Isabelle|I|', 'Dahllöf|Göran|G|']
D002648:Child D002649:Child Abuse D002651:Child Advocacy D002669:Child Welfare D003657:Decision Making D019140:Dental Care for Children D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations D003815:Dentists D004990:Ethics, Dental D017144:Focus Groups D006801:Humans D019221:Mandatory Reporting D010290:Parents D010377:Pediatric Dentistry D024382:Professional Role D011368:Professional-Family Relations D012017:Referral and Consultation D012947:Social Work D014741:Video Recording
child abuse dentist-patient relations mandatory reporting professional practice