-
BMJ Open Apr 2019To systematically synthesise qualitative research that explores children's and caregivers' perceptions of mandatory reporting. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To systematically synthesise qualitative research that explores children's and caregivers' perceptions of mandatory reporting.
DESIGN
We conducted a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.
DATA SOURCES
Searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Education Resources Information Center, Sociological Abstracts and Cochrane Libraries.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
English-language, primary, qualitative studies that investigated children's or caregivers' perceptions of reporting child maltreatment were included. All healthcare and social service settings implicated by mandatory reporting laws were included.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Critical appraisal of included studies involved a modified checklist from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). Two independent reviewers extracted data, including direct quotations from children and caregivers (first-order constructs) and interpretations by study authors (second-order constructs). Third-order constructs (the findings of this meta-synthesis) involved synthesising second-order constructs that addressed strategies to improve the mandatory reporting processes for children or caregivers-especially when these themes addressed concerns raised by children or caregivers in relation to the reporting process.
RESULTS
Over 7935 citations were retrieved and 35 articles were included in this meta-synthesis. The studies represent the views of 821 caregivers, 50 adults with histories of child maltreatment and 28 children. Findings suggest that children and caregivers fear being reported, as well as the responses to reports. Children and caregivers identified a need for improvement in communication from healthcare providers about mandatory reporting, offering preliminary insight into child-driven and caregiver-driven strategies to mitigate potential harms associated with reporting processes.
CONCLUSION
Research on strategies to mitigate potential harms linked to mandatory reporting is urgently needed, as is research that explores children's experiences with this process.
Topics: Attitude; Caregivers; Child; Child Abuse; Humans; Mandatory Reporting; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 30948587
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025741 -
BMJ Open Oct 2017To systematically search for research about the effectiveness of mandatory reporting of child maltreatment and to synthesise qualitative research that explores mandated... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To systematically search for research about the effectiveness of mandatory reporting of child maltreatment and to synthesise qualitative research that explores mandated reporters' (MRs) experiences with reporting.
DESIGN
As no studies assessing the effectiveness of mandatory reporting were retrieved from our systematic search, we conducted a meta-synthesis of retrieved qualitative research. Searches in Medline (Ovid), Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Sociological Abstracts, Education Resources Information Center, Criminal Justice Abstracts and Cochrane Library yielded over 6000 citations, which were deduplicated and then screened by two independent reviewers. English-language, primary qualitative studies that investigated MRs' experiences with reporting of child maltreatment were included. Critical appraisal involved a modified checklist from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and qualitative meta-synthesis was used to combine results from the primary studies.
SETTING
All healthcare and social-service settings implicated by mandatory reporting laws were included. Included studies crossed nine high-income countries (USA, Australia, Sweden, Taiwan, Canada, Norway, Finland, Israel and Cyprus) and three middle-income countries (South Africa, Brazil and El Salvador).
PARTICIPANTS
The studies represent the views of 1088 MRs.
OUTCOMES
Factors that influence MRs' decision to report and MRs' views towards and experiences with mandatory reporting of child maltreatment.
RESULTS
Forty-four articles reporting 42 studies were included. Findings indicate that MRs struggle to identify and respond to less overt forms of child maltreatment. While some articles (14%) described positive experiences MRs had with the reporting process, negative experiences were reported in 73% of articles and included accounts of harm to therapeutic relationships and child death following removal from their family of origin.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this meta-synthesis suggest that there are many potentially harmful experiences associated with mandatory reporting and that research on the effectiveness of this process is urgently needed.
Topics: Child; Child Abuse; Developed Countries; Developing Countries; Humans; Mandatory Reporting; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 29042370
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013942 -
Law and Human Behavior Aug 2020Child neglect is often initially identified via adults who come into contact with children and report their suspicions to the authorities. Little is known about what...
OBJECTIVE
Child neglect is often initially identified via adults who come into contact with children and report their suspicions to the authorities. Little is known about what behaviors laypersons view as constituting neglect and hence worth reporting. We examined laypersons' perceptions of neglect and poverty, particularly how these factors independently and jointly shaped laypersons' decisions about what warrants official reporting of neglect, and how laypersons' socioeconomic background related to their decisions.
HYPOTHESES
We anticipated that neglect would be correctly perceived as such, but that extreme poverty would also be perceived as neglect, with these latter perceptions being most pronounced among laypersons of higher socioeconomic background.
METHOD
In 2 studies, adults read vignettes about a mother's care of her daughter and rendered decisions about whether the mother's behavior met the legal standard of neglect and should be reported. In Study 1 (N = 365, 55% female, mean age = 37.12 years), indicators of poverty and neglect were manipulated. In Study 2 (N = 474, 53% female, mean age = 38.25 years), only poverty (housing instability: homelessness vs. not) was manipulated.
RESULTS
Laypersons often conflated poverty and neglect, especially in circumstances of homelessness. Laypersons of lower socioeconomic background were less likely to perceive neglect in general and to report an obligation to make a referral (R2s ranged from 17-26%, odds ratios ranged from 2.24-3.08).
CONCLUSIONS
Laypersons may overreport neglect in circumstances of poverty. Increasing public awareness of how to recognize and separate neglect from poverty may enhance identification of vulnerable children and families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child Abuse; Decision Making; Ethnicity; Female; Ill-Housed Persons; Humans; Male; Mandatory Reporting; Middle Aged; Poverty
PubMed: 32673001
DOI: 10.1037/lhb0000415 -
PloS One 2021Both voluntary in-hospital reporting and mandatory national-level reporting systems for patient safety issues need to work well to develop a patient safety learning...
Patient safety management systems and activities related to promoting voluntary in-hospital reporting and mandatory national-level reporting for patient safety issues: A cross-sectional study.
Both voluntary in-hospital reporting and mandatory national-level reporting systems for patient safety issues need to work well to develop a patient safety learning system that is effective in preventing the recurrence of adverse events. Some of the hospital systems and activities may increase voluntary in-hospital reporting and mandatory national-level reporting. This study aimed to identify the hospital systems and activities that increase voluntary in-hospital reporting and mandatory national-level reporting for patient safety issues. An anonymous mail survey of hospitals in Japan was conducted in 2017. The hospitals were selected by stratified random sampling according to number of beds. The survey examined the annual number of reported events in the voluntary in-hospital reporting system for patient safety and experience of reporting unexpected patient deaths possibly due to medical interventions to the mandatory national-level reporting system in the last 2 years. The relationship of the answer to the questions with the patient safety management systems and activities at each hospital was analyzed. The response rate was 18.8% (603/3,215). The number of in-hospital reports per bed was positively related to identifying events by referring complaints or questions of patients or family members, using root cause analysis for analyzing reported events, and developing manuals or case studies based on reported events, and negatively related to the unification and standardization of medical devices and equipment. The experience with mandatory national-level reporting of serious adverse events was positively related to identifying problematic cases by a person in charge of patient safety management from the in-hospital reporting system of complications and accidental symptoms. Enhanced feedback for reporters may promote voluntary in-hospital reporting of minor cases with low litigation risks. Developing an in-hospital mechanism that examines all serious complications and accidental symptoms may promote mandatory national-level reporting of serious adverse events with high litigation risks.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Hospitals; Humans; Japan; Mandatory Reporting; Patient Safety; Safety Management
PubMed: 34320041
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255329 -
American Journal of Medical Quality :... 2015Over the past decade, most US states and territories began mandating that acute care hospitals report health care-associated infections (HAIs) to their departments of... (Review)
Review
Over the past decade, most US states and territories began mandating that acute care hospitals report health care-associated infections (HAIs) to their departments of health. Trends in state HAI law enactment and data submission requirements were determined through systematic legal review; state HAI coordinators were contacted to confirm collected data. As of January 31, 2013, 37 US states and territories (71%) had adopted laws requiring HAI data submission, most of which were enacted and became effective in 2006 and 2007. Most states with HAI laws required reporting of central line-associated bloodstream infections in adult intensive care units (92%), and about half required reporting of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile infections (54% and 51%, respectively). Overall, data submission requirements were found to vary across states. Considering the facility and state resources needed to comply with HAI reporting mandates, future studies should focus on whether these laws have had the desired impact of reducing infection rates.
Topics: Catheter-Related Infections; Cross Infection; Disease Notification; Humans; Mandatory Reporting; United States
PubMed: 24951104
DOI: 10.1177/1062860614540200 -
Australian Family Physician May 2005The requirement for general practitioners to write reports about their patients' fitness to drive will increase as the population ages and licensing criteria change. It... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The requirement for general practitioners to write reports about their patients' fitness to drive will increase as the population ages and licensing criteria change. It is important that GPs understand the medical and legal issues involved in this important area of public health.
OBJECTIVE
This two part article discusses the rationale behind assessing fitness to drive and briefly summarises several medical conditions that commonly give rise to problems. This information will help GPs understand the decision making process regarding this sensitive issue, and improve the quality of medical reports. Adequate assessment and reporting can help patients avoid becoming involved in traffic crashes, and the doctor from becoming involved in court appearances.
DISCUSSION
Specific medical conditions discussed in part one are epilepsy, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Guidelines are based on currently available evidence regarding the effects of medical conditions on driving and are subject to regular review as new information becomes available.
Topics: Australia; Automobile Driving; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Epilepsy; Family Practice; Humans; Licensure; Mandatory Reporting; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Task Performance and Analysis
PubMed: 15887940
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of the American Pharmacists... 2020To examine and describe the reporting requirements for pharmacists related to interpersonal violence and abuse in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To examine and describe the reporting requirements for pharmacists related to interpersonal violence and abuse in the United States.
METHODS
A comprehensive search of state laws related to mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence and domestic violence (IPV), child abuse, and elder abuse was conducted. Identified statutes were reviewed to determine if pharmacists were mandatory reporters for each type of violence.
RESULTS
Pharmacists are specifically identified as mandatory reporters of intimate partner violence in 10 states, of child abuse in 11, and of elder abuse in 20. They may also have reporting requirements in more states as statutes sometimes identify health care providers as mandatory reporters, but do not specify which types of providers. Additionally, many states require reporting of child and elder abuse by anyone who is aware of or suspects abuse. IPV statutes mainly require reporting when treating wounds from gunshots, stabbings, and burns.
CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacists are accessible health care providers who should be aware of reporting requirements for their practice location and setting. They have mandatory reporting requirements in much of the United States, especially for child and elder abuse. They should seek specific guidance about their reporting requirements and reporting methods, as well as identify educational and local referral resources for victims they may encounter in practice.
Topics: Aged; Child; Child Abuse; Domestic Violence; Elder Abuse; Humans; Mandatory Reporting; Pharmacists; United States
PubMed: 32778517
DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2020.07.014 -
CJEM Jun 2022Mandatory gunshot wound reporting laws have been enacted in much of Canada, yet there is a lack of evidence on whether these laws are effective in preventing firearm...
OBJECTIVE
Mandatory gunshot wound reporting laws have been enacted in much of Canada, yet there is a lack of evidence on whether these laws are effective in preventing firearm injuries. Our objective was to determine if the Gunshot Wounds Reporting Act in Nova Scotia had an effect on the number of firearm-related injuries in the province.
METHODS
Pre-post-study of major trauma patients in Nova Scotia who sustained a gunshot wound injury before and after enactment of the Gunshot Wounds Reporting Act (Bill 10) in 2008. Data were collected from the Nova Scotia Trauma Registry and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service for a 6-year pre-period (2002-2007) and an 11-year post-period (2009-2019), allowing for a 1-year washout period. Patient characteristics in the pre- and post-periods were compared using t tests and Chi-square analysis. Gunshot wound traumas were analyzed as a time series using the AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model.
RESULTS
A total of 722 firearm injuries were observed during the study period (pre-period = 259, post-period = 463). Mean age was 45.2 ± 19.3 years with males accounting for 95.3% (688/722) of cases. The majority of injuries were self-inflicted (65.1%; 470/722). The mean overall annualized rate of firearm injuries was 4.61 per 100,000 population in the pre-period and 4.45 per 100,000 in the post-period (reduction of 3.4%). No linear trends in the annual number of firearm injuries were observed over the study period. ARIMA modelling was an extremely poor predictor for gunshot wound trauma (R = 0.012).
CONCLUSIONS
Although our findings suggest that there is no association between the Gunshot Wounds Reporting Act and the incidence of firearm injury, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions due to the complexity of this topic. Physicians need to be aware of the legal requirements of mandatory reporting when they encounter patients with gunshot wounds.
Topics: Adult; Firearms; Humans; Incidence; Male; Mandatory Reporting; Middle Aged; Nova Scotia; Wounds, Gunshot
PubMed: 35386036
DOI: 10.1007/s43678-022-00288-y -
International Journal of Surgery... Jun 2016Journals are an important conduit for the publication of research. However, the reporting quality of research has been shown to be lacking. We sought to determine if...
BACKGROUND
Journals are an important conduit for the publication of research. However, the reporting quality of research has been shown to be lacking. We sought to determine if reporting quality could be improved by mandating compliance with the relevant reporting guidelines during the submission process to a single surgical journal.
METHODS
The policy above was implemented in the International Journal of Surgery (IJS) in March 2013. This involved requiring all authors submitting observational studies, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews to submit completed STROBE, CONSORT and PRISMA Statement checklists respectively along with their paper, making them available to the editor and peer-reviewers. Articles were analysed in three distinct periods from 2012 to 2014, before and after guideline implementation by two independent teams.
RESULTS
Our results show that overall STROBE compliance following implementation of the policy increased by a statistically significant 12% (68%-77%, p = 0.00018). Similarly CONSORT compliance increased (50%-70%) as did PRISMA compliance (48%-76%). The items that improved the most were those providing detail on study design, outcome definitions as well as measurement, how patients and quantitative variables were handled during the analyses and discussing limitations and detailing potential sources of bias.
CONCLUSION
Implementing a policy mandating the submission of a completed reporting guideline checklist for observational studies, RCTs and systematic reviews can increase compliance. We advocate this measure for other journals and for other study types.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Clinical Studies as Topic; Guideline Adherence; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Mandatory Reporting; Publications; Publishing; Research Design
PubMed: 27112835
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2016.04.032 -
New South Wales Public Health Bulletin 2012
Topics: Communicable Disease Control; Contact Tracing; Global Health; Hospitalization; Humans; Mandatory Reporting; New South Wales; Patient Compliance; Treatment Refusal; Tuberculosis
PubMed: 22738624
DOI: 10.1071/NB12060