Open AccessDetermining the Feasibility of Incorporating a Bullying Involvement Screening into Pediatric Office Visits
Author(s) -
Allison F. Messina,
Diana Schroeder,
Shiryl Barto,
Karla Joyce-Good
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical health promotion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2226-5864
pISSN - 2223-7399
DOI - 10.29102/clinhp.18002
Subject(s) - certification , health care , medicine , occupational safety and health , suicide prevention , focus group , nursing , mental health , injury prevention , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , family medicine , psychology , medical education , medical emergency , psychiatry , business , pathology , marketing , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Background Bullying is a serious problem that can lead to short and long-term physical and mental health problems. Many healthcare providers are reluctant to screen patients for bullying involvement because they lack education and training on bullying prevention. The objective of this study was to determine if pediatric healthcare professionals would find a bullying screening process useful. Methods A training was developed by certified bullying prevention specialists to teach healthcare providers about bullying prevention, associated health effects, and how to utilize a validated screening tool in their practices to determine adolescents’ involvement in bullying and possible related health events. Eleven pediatric practices participated. Results At project end, providers and staff completed a survey (n=66) and participated in focus group to document their experience with the project. Results demonstrated that: 1) the bullying prevention training, survey process, survey tool, and related educational materials were beneficial; 2) a need and desire exists to incorporate the tool into future pediatric visits; 3) healthcare professionals believe they have a responsibility to help patients who have been bullied. Conclusion The survey tool and process show promise for increasing healthcare providers’ knowledge about bullying prevention and likelihood of screening their adolescent patients’ for bullying involvement. The project showed the screening tool was a beneficial way for providers to engage their adolescent patients and families in conversations about bullying.