Enhancing implementation and compliance of the Screening Instrument for Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) in emergency departments in the Netherlands.

ABSTRACT:

Study purpose

This study examines the implementation of the Screening Instrument for Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) and the Structured Tool for Evaluating Positive Screened cases (STEPS) in nine emergency departments (EDs). The study aimed to assess whether implementation could enhance compliance with SCAN and to evaluate the usability of SCAN&STEPS within an implementation-focused design, in response to the decline in child maltreatment recognition observed in Dutch EDs over the past decade.

Methods

SCAN&STEPS was embedded in ED workflow and electronic health records (EHRs), supported by a selection of implementation strategies, including e-learning, policy manuals and an awareness campaign. Effectiveness was assessed through compliance with SCAN, comparing preimplementatio

SUBMITTER: van den Heuvel EAL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12933765 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature