LAUSR

Background Evaluation of an index case of child abuse necessitates risk assessment of other children who could be vulnerable to abuse from the same perpetrator/s. Objective To determine the effectiveness of the addition of a prompt to the standard clinical proforma used for the assessment of new referrals to a child sexual assault service in terms of impact upon detection of other at risk children. Participants and Setting All referrals to a Child and Adolescent Sexual Assault Treatment Service, Galway, West Ireland. Methods Retrospective chart review of all children assessed between September 2016 and March 2017. Intervention initiated on September 1st2017. Prospective chart review of all children assessed between September 2017 and March 2018. Chart reviews established whether risk to siblings/close child contacts of the index case had been adequately considered. Results Comparing pre and post intervention groups, documentation of children at risk significantly increased from 70% to 96% (p= 0.0124). Cases in which a letter was sent to social services regarding other ‘at risk’ children significantly increased from 50% to 92% (p= 0.0005) 0.161) but this was not statistically significant. Conclusions Introduction of a simple prompt had a significant positive impact upon clinicians’ consideration of other ‘at risk’ children. We recommend that other services consider including a similar section in their own proforma documents.