Children’s and adolescents’ perspectives on routine inquiry about violence in specialised outpatient care

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study explores children’s and adolescents’ experiences and opinions of routine inquiries about violence within specialised outpatient care. Utilising a mixed method with a convergent parallel design, the research combines quantitative data from 184 respondents aged 6–17 collected through survey data and qualitative interviews with four participants aged 7–14. The data presented is a byproduct of an ongoing research project that evaluates a questionnaire designed to ask children about violence. Results Findings indicate that most children and adolescents view routine questioning about violence positively or neutrally. The study highlights the importance of healthcare professionals’ responses to disclosures of violence, emphasising that supportive and empathetic reactions can impact children’s willingness to disclose such experiences in the future. The results underscore the necessity for routine inquiries about violence in healthcare settings to ensure that affected children receive appropriate support and intervention.

Keywords

• Violence screening
• Children and adolescents
• Outpatient care
• Mixed methods
• Domestic violence