Türkiye’de Çalışan Bir Grup Çocuk Diş Hekiminin Çocuğa Yönelik Fiziksel İstismar Konusunda Bilgi Düzeylerinin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

ABSTRACT Özgür, N. Determining the Level of Knowledge of a Group of Turkish Pediatric Dentists About Child Physical Abuse. Hacettepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Specialty Thesis in Pediatric Dentistry, Ankara, 2018. Physical abuse is the best known form of abuse and is defined as any form of behavior that results in physical trauma or injury without an accident. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the level of information of Turkish pediatric dentists about child physical abuse and to learn their experiences about reporting and recognizing cases of physical abuse. Research has aimed to reach all pediatric dentists who have completed doctorate and specialty education in Turkey. The electronic link of the questionnaire was sent by e-mail to the addresses obtained from the Turkish Association of Pedodontics. 212 people returned the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 40.9%. Participants who graduated from undergraduate education in 1997 and before were found to have significantly lower level of education about child physical abuse (p <0.001). The participants who have completed doctorate/specialty education between 2011-2013 were found to have significantly increased level of education on child physical abuse when compared to the other groups. (p <0.05). 43.9% of the respondents stated that they suspected physical abuse in their professional lives; however, only 29% of them have reported. The most common reason for not reporting was "I didn't know where and how to report."The rate of suspicion of child abuse was found to be significantly higher in respondents who were working in the state hospitals or oral health centers (p <0.05). 70.3% of the respondents stated that they did not know the legal sanctions to be encountered by the dentist who did not report or delayed in reporting suspicion of child abuse. Only 15.6% of the respondents found themselves competent enough to diagnose and report the physical abuse against children. 96.7% of them state that they want to get more information and education on this matter. It was concluded that improved ways to meet the Turkish pediatric dentists’ education need for child physical abuse should be sought.