Child physical abuse: the need for an objective assessment.

Physicians may fail to recognize child abuse for a number of reasons,1 including a lack of training and experience. Many physicians received little training during medical school or residency;2 such training increases pediatric residents’ self-rating of competency in evaluating child maltreatment.3 Pediatricians and pediatric residents who received child abuse education expressed more confidence in their ability to identify and manage child maltreatment4,5 and were more likely to diagnose child maltreatment.6 Because the diagnosis of child maltreatment requires a thorough clinical and historical assessment, the diagnosis can be missed if the physician does not ask detailed questions about how an injury occurred, whether witnesses were present, and whether the child suffered previous injuries.7,8 A careful Child Physical Abuse: The Need for an Objective Assessment