Children’s and adolescents’ perspectives on routine inquiry about violence in specialised outpatient care

TL;DR

This study examines how children and teenagers feel about being asked about violence during routine healthcare visits.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into children's perspectives on routine violence inquiries in healthcare.

Findings

Most children and adolescents view routine violence inquiries positively or neutrally.

Supportive and empathetic responses from healthcare professionals are crucial for encouraging disclosures.

Routine inquiries are necessary to ensure children receive proper support and intervention.

Abstract

This study explores children’s and adolescents’ experiences and opinions of routine inquiries about violence within specialised outpatient care. Utilising a mixed method with a convergent parallel design, the research combines quantitative data from 184 respondents aged 6–17 collected through survey data and qualitative interviews with four participants aged 7–14. The data presented is a byproduct of an ongoing research project that evaluates a questionnaire designed to ask children about violence.

Findings indicate that most children and adolescents view routine questioning about violence positively or neutrally. The study highlights the importance of healthcare professionals’ responses to disclosures of violence, emphasising that supportive and empathetic reactions can impact children’s willingness to disclose such experiences in the future. The results underscore the necessity for routine inquiries about violence in healthcare settings to ensure that affected children receive appropriate support and intervention.

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