Background and Research Question
Can the Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) model for enhancing primary care be used in improving the knowledge, attitudes, competence, comfort, and conduct of child healthcare professionals (HPs) in regard to addressing child maltreatment (CM) risk factors?
Dubowitz et al. (2011) hypothesized that the Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) model equips professionals with the information they need to address the psychosocial problems. SEEK is hypothesized to enhance the attitude, capability, and practice conduct of the healthcare specialists.
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Other authors conducted previous studies, but Dubowitz et al. (2011) research is among the first ones in examining change taking place in the pediatric private practice in relation to psychosocial problem management. The healthcare professionals in pediatric care have a crucial role to play in the identification and addressing prevalent psychosocial problems resulting from child maltreatment. Improved screening is given as the first step in comprehending the risks of child maltreatment, thus devising a way of helping the affected.
Methodological Approach
The study was carried out using a cluster randomized control trial. Eighteen private practices were utilized to SEEK or control sample groups. The healthcare practitioners using the SEEK model gained training on the risk factors of child maltreatment, such as depression after birth. The model involved a screening questionnaire for parents and social worker participation. Three ways were used in assessing the impact of the SEEK model (Dubowitz et al, 2011). The first one was using the health professional questionnaire (HPQ) for assessing the attitude and practice related to child maltreatment problems. The second approach is observing the healthcare professional when they are carrying out the checkups. The latter approach is reviewing the medical records of the children. the sample group was initially made of twenty-three practices from the University of Maryland and only seventeen of then accepted to be part of the study. The baseline involved observing the results of both SEEK and Control methods, then comparing the results.
Summary of the Findings
The baseline scores were compared at 6, 18, and 36 months and the follow-up data indicated that HPQ illustrated a significant value of practice being larger than .05 upgrading in the SEEK group when compared to the control group. The factors examined were depression, followed- up for six months, controls of depression, eighteen months for substance abuse and intimate partner violence for six and eighteen months, and stress rates follow-up for 6, 18, and 36 months. The SEEK healthcare practitioners screened targeted problems (Dubowitz et al, 2011). When screening is increased, it was easy for SEEK HPs to understand the different factors. The behavior of the healthcare providers was examined using two more ways. The first one was reviewing the medical records of the children. the second one is observing the HPs when they are on practice. The study indicated that mothers who participated in SEEK had higher chances of getting screened compared to those in the control group.
The study has several limitations. The first one is using a relatively small sample for generalizing the findings. The SEEK model promises that the physicians will be equipped with the knowledge and competence they need to deal with psychological issues of child malpractice. However, there is no guarantee that all healthcare practitioners will gain the necessary competence.
Implications and Future Direction
SEEK model offers the required tool which equips the providers with the knowledge they need in helping children with psychological problems overcome the issue. The providers also help mothers with psychosocial matters on how to overcome them to avoid causing harm in society. Healthcare providers can use the SEEK model in reducing the issues of child maltreatment, especially by their mothers (Dubowitz et al, 2011). Such women can be assisted in overcoming such a problem. Social workers can also use the model to help when checking child welfare. In the future, other models should be sought to make sure that child maltreatment problem in the society is addressed adequately.
Reference
Dubowitz, H., Lane, W. G., Semiatin, J. N., Magder, L. S., Venepally, M., & Jans, M. (2011). The Safe Environment for Every Kid model: Impact on pediatric primary care professionals. Pediatrics, 127, e962-e970.
