Perceived barriers to full participation by general practitioners in the child protection process: preliminary conclusions from focus group discussions in West Midlands, UK

Abstract

Focus group discussions were undertaken amongst five primary health care teams in the West Midlands in order to explore and define issues relevant to the participation by general practitioners in the child protection process. It was found that general practitioners were uncertain of what was precisely required of them in this respect and that child protection work was a source of significant anxiety for them. It would appear that in many instances, the lead role for child protection work within the team was delegated by default to health visitors who frequently represented the views of general practitioners at child protection case conferences. General practitioners acknowledged their unmet training needs in child protection and expressed a preference for practice based, multidisciplinary, clinically-orintated seminars. It is recommended that the role of general practitioners in this area is more accurately defined and that fresh approaches to their training are initiated. Commitment on the part of general practitioners to the guiding principles of the child protection process is essential to ensure the protection of children from abuse. The importance of child protection as an essential issue for primary care must be recognised by all those who have a responsibility for the training and continual medical education of general practitioners.

Key Words:

• Child abuse
• primary care
• training
• teamwork
• learning team
• focus groups