Effectiveness of a statewide child abuse and neglect educational program for dental professionals

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a statewide child abuse and neglect (CAN) educational program. Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 2,500 dentists and 2,500 hygienists registered in Massachusetts. Approximately half the responding dentists and hygienists were aware of the existence of the program either via a theme issue of The Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society or presentations at the Yankee Dental Congresses. Most respondents indicated that the program had increased their awareness and knowledge of CAN and made them more likely to detect and report such cases. However 38.1% of the respondents were not comfortable calling the Department of Social Services (DSS). The major reason cited for not reporting was the lack of an adequate history to confirm suspicions. Approximately one-fifth of the dentists and hygienists reported having seen dental pathology or injuries to children that they suspected to be a result of child abuse or neglect, while 13.6% admitted to seeing at least one suspicious case in the past 12 months. One-third of the respondents stated that they thought at least one of these suspicious cases was definitely the result of abuse. Only a minority of these dentists and hygienists reported to the DSS any of the suspicious cases they'd seen; however, the majority of these reporters were satisfied with the results of their reports.