Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Development and Implementation of a Multi-Disciplinary Technology Enhanced Care Pathway for Youth and Adults with Concussion
Published on: January 20, 2019
A regional multidisciplinary network enhances child abuse case management
Yoshihiro Watanabe1,2, Kentaro Shiga1,2, Nobuyuki Kikuchi1,3
1Yokohama Medical Network for Maltreated Children, Child and Youth Bureau, Yokohama Municipal Government, Yokohama, Japan.
Insights
Establishing a regional multidisciplinary network improved the response to infant intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) cases. This network enhanced detection of injuries and reporting of suspected child abuse, leading to better care for affected children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Child Abuse Forensics
- Public Health Networks
Background:
- Previous reports indicated inadequate response to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in infants under 24 months in Yokohama (2011-2013).
- The establishment of a regional multidisciplinary network for child abuse was investigated for its impact on ICH case response in medical institutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of a regional multidisciplinary child abuse network on the response to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) cases in infants.
- To compare ICH case management before and after the network's implementation.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was conducted on ICH cases under 24 months (2014-2016) after network establishment.
- Patient characteristics, injury detection examinations, and child protection service (CPS) reports were analyzed.
- Results were compared to a previous study (2011-2013) representing the pre-network period.
Main Results:
- Fifty ICH cases were identified over three years.
- Post-network establishment, significant increases in covert fracture and fundus hemorrhage detection were observed (P=0.0001, P=0.0182).
- Reporting of suspected child abuse to hospital child protection teams (CPTs) and regional CPSs significantly increased post-network implementation (P=0.0062, P=0.0215).
Conclusions:
- A regional multidisciplinary network enhances the response and cooperation for addressing child abuse cases.
- The network improves understanding of child abuse care and raises awareness among hospital personnel.
Background:
We previously reported an inadequate response to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) cases under 24 months of age in Yokohama from 2011 to 2013. Hence, it is very important to evaluate how the establishment of a regional multidisciplinary network for child abuse affects the response to ICH cases in medical institutions.
Methods:
We conducted a questionnaire survey of ICH cases under 24 months of age from 2014 to 2016 using a regional multidisciplinary network for child abuse established in Yokohama in September 2013. We investigated the patients' characteristics, examinations to identify inflicted injury, and reports made to the hospital-based child protection team (CPT) or regional child protective service (CPS), and compared the results of a previous study and the current study, which corresponds to before and after the establishment of the regional network, respectively.
Results:
The total number of ICH cases was 50 in 3 years. The number of cases surveyed for covert fracture and fundus hemorrhage increased significantly after the establishment of the regional network (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0182, respectively). The number of cases reported as suspected child abuse was 41 (82%) to the hospital-based CPTs and 27 (54%) to the regional CPSs. There were significant differences between before and after the establishment of the regional network regarding CPT (P = 0.0062) and CPS (P = 0.0215) reports.
Conclusions:
A regional multidisciplinary network can enhance response and cooperation to address child abuse. It deepens our understanding of such care and improves awareness by hospital personnel of child abuse.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:30Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
01:18Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...