The structure, function, task, and effectiveness of hospital-based child protection teams in Taiwan

Chia-Jung Chen; Joh-Jong Huang; Shih-Min Wang; Jui-Ying Feng

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106373

The structure, function, task, and effectiveness of hospital-based child protection teams in Taiwan

Child Abuse Negl. 2023 Oct:144:106373. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106373. Epub 2023 Jul 26.

Authors

Chia-Jung Chen¹, Joh-Jong Huang², Shih-Min Wang³, Jui-Ying Feng⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.
² Department of Medical Humanity and Education, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.
³ Center for Infection Control, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Electronic address: juiying@mail.ncku.edu.tw.

PMID: 37506617
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106373

Abstract

Background: Child protection teams (CPTs) are established in many countries with an intent to safeguard children at risk for maltreatment. However, the tasks and effectiveness of CPTs in Taiwan and many countries remain unclear.

Objective: A two-step, descriptive correlational study aimed to explore the implementation status and needs concerning the structure, functions, tasks, and effectiveness of hospital-based CPTs using a self-developed evaluation tool in Taiwan.

Participants and setting: Five experts and 10 CPT members were evaluated the psychometric properties of the evaluation tool. The main study participants comprised 153 CPT members in Taiwan in 2020.

Methods: Content validity, factor analysis, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency were used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument. Descriptive and correlational statistics were to describe the implementation status and needs of the structure, functions, tasks, and effectiveness of hospital-based CPTs and their relationships.

Results: The psychometric properties of the tool were acceptable and satisfactory. The mean scores for each dimension of CPT implementation status were 2.77-2.93 (potential range 0-4) with the lowest for collaboration (mean = 1.97) and incentive (mean = 1.93). The average need scores for each dimension ranged 7.96-8.12 (potential range 0-10), indicating high needs for each dimension, particularly in support, cohesion, and incentive. The implementation status was significantly, weakly correlated with the needs.

Conclusions: There is a need to further strengthen the structure and function of the CPTs and to improve its implementation in Taiwan. It is important to improve inter-agency collaboration and to establish an incentive mechanism for hospital CPTs. Working closely with community agencies is also needed to provide a good quality of care to the maltreated child and the family.

Keywords: Child protection team; Effectiveness; Function; Psychometric; Structure; Task.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
Child Welfare*
Hospitals*
Humans
Psychometrics / methods
Reproducibility of Results
Surveys and Questionnaires
Taiwan