Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Empirical research has demonstrated an association between physical punishment and myriad negative outcomes for children across multiple developmental domains. Moreover, the practice of spanking is a risk factor for child physical abuse, which is a prominent public health issue. Accordingly, growing prevention and intervention efforts have been aimed at reducing spanking by reducing favorable attitudes toward the practice. A reliable means to access most parents would be to equip medical professionals with tools to address this topic in anticipatory guidance. The current study evaluated a brief behavior management training for residents and attending physicians at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (N = 33). Specifically, physician attitudes toward spanking and their intentions to discuss various behavior management topics with their patients were measured pre- and post-training. Additionally, focus groups composed of some training attendees (n = 14) were conducted to gather insight into the physicians’ opinions on the training and their training needs to facilitate their role with parent discipline choices. Nonparametric repeated measures analyses were conducted to analyze the quantitative data, while template analysis was used to evaluate the qualitative component for thematic content. Results indicated that the participants endorsed reduced favorable attitudes toward spanking, increased likelihood to discuss discipline with patients, and reduced likelihood to recommend physical punishment. Results also informed which aspects of the training were most impactful, what barriers prevent physician-parent discussions, and what training needs still exist. This study provides further evidence that physician attitudes toward spanking and intentions to discuss discipline can be changed with brief intervention and adds that such trainings should include the provision of physical resources. Considerations for the implementation of future trainings, including which components are most salient to meet existing training needs, are presented.
Author: Tabitha C. Fleming
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3202316172