Feasibility of an impact analysis of a tool to predict abuse
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility of an impact analysis of a clinical prediction tool to estimate the probability of abusive head trauma in children less than three years of age
IRAS ID
167217
Contact name
Laura Cowley
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Abusive head trauma (AHT) is one of the most serious types of child abuse. It is important that AHT is identified accurately, so that doctors can intervene, refer the child to social services, and prevent any further abuse from occurring. However, it is also important that non-abusive cases are not wrongly identified as abusive. This can have devastating consequences for the families involved. Unfortunately, clinicians may lack confidence and experience in distinguishing between accidental and abusive head injuries in children. There is no one simple diagnostic test to accurately detect AHT. The decision as to whether the head injury has arisen from accident or abuse relies on a thorough medical examination and investigation to identify the full clinical picture of the presenting child, and exclude other causes. When abuse is suspected, a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, social workers and police must work jointly to piece the clinical and circumstantial evidence together to decide, on the balance of probabilities, whether the injuries sustained are accidental or abusive.
We have developed a simple tool which clinicians can use to help them distinguish between AHT and accidental head trauma. This tool estimates the probability of AHT in a child with brain injury, based on different combinations of six clinical features. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of conducting an impact analysis of this tool when it is used by clinicians who come into contact with children with brain injury. We will collect clinical data of presenting children, and determine a) the probability estimate that the tool provides b) the probability estimate of clinicians, prior to and following the use of the tool c) the child protection decisions of clinicians prior to and following the use of the tool and d) whether the child was deemed abused or non-abused.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
16/WA/0003
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion