Interventions to Improve the Response of Professionals to Children Exposed to Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Systematic Review

29 April 2019 2 mins read Deanne Mitchell Families/Parenting Safeguarding and child protection

Despite the major public health and clinical impact of domestic violence and abuse, the response of health care professionals to women experiencing domestic abuse is often poorly informed and inappropriate. This systematic review looks at educational and structural or whole-system interventions that aim to improve professionals' understanding of, and response to, survivors and their children.

Interventions to Improve the Response of Professionals to Children Exposed to Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Systematic Review

Report by William Turner et al, Child Abuse Review, 26 (2017)

The majority of the studies were conducted in paediatric settings in the USA. A total of 2018 participants were included in the 18 studies, the majority being clinicians. Three of the 18 studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Twelve studies used a pre-/post-test survey design and three used a post-test only design.

Findings

The review included eight training, and three system-level interventions. Training interventions generally have had positive effects on participants' knowledge and attitudes towards domestic violence and abuse and clinical competence. The results from the RCTs were consistent with the before/after studies.

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