Evaluation of knowledge levels of nurses working in a university hospital on diagnosing child abuse and neglect

Evaluation of Knowledge Levels of Nurses Working in a University Hospital on Diagnosing Child Abuse and Neglect This research is a descriptive study conducted to evaluate the level of knowledge of nurses working in a university hospital, who monitor and care for pediatric patients, about diagnosing the symptoms and risks of child abuse and neglect. The sample of the research was collected from Ç.Ü.T.F. between February 2020 and March 2020. Balcalı Training and Research Hospital consisted of 263 nurses who care and follow up pediatric patients in clinic and polyclinic, pediatric emergency and intensive care units. In collecting the data, an introductory information form and a scale for diagnosing the symptoms and risks of child abuse and neglect (CIBRTÖ), which we think will affect our interpretation of the results of the research, were used to collect the data. The nurses forming the sample; Age groups, length of service in the profession, working with a child patient during the study, receiving training on child abuse and neglect during education, receiving in-service training, length of service in the profession, perceptions of competence in responding to abuse cases they encounter, which institutions they can direct possible victims of abuse. There was no statistically significant difference between the sub-scales of the scale and the total score averages of general knowledge when evaluated according to the answers they gave to the question of whether they were abused before, the abuse cases they had encountered before, and the answers received when they were asked whether they recommended any institution. Accordingly, when the nurses forming the sample were evaluated according to the "Sufficiency Levels of the Individual in Interventing the Case", it was determined that 97.72% of the answers belonged to the "moderate" level sufficient group, while 2.28% were found to be sufficient at the "low" level. It was determined that the general knowledge point average of the nurses was at medium and below. It has been seen that the trainings received are not sufficient to meet the needs of nurses and their perceived knowledge deficiencies. It has also been found that education is not the best way to prepare nurses for their role in protecting children. Future approaches may include training programs that recognize the complexities of clinical judgments required to implement prevention practices in the community and clinical settings. Keywords: Child Abuse, Child neglect, Diagnosis, Knowledge level, Nurse