Knowledge, attitudes, detection, and reporting practices of elder abuse among orthopedists.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present study is to explore orthopedists' level of knowledge regarding laws and directives related to the detection and reporting of elder abuse, their attitudes towards the detection and reporting of elder abuse, detection and reporting practices, and the associations between these variables.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 145 orthopedists employed in various Israeli hospitals-senior orthopedists, orthopedic residents, and orthopedic interns-completed a questionnaire.

RESULTS

The orthopedists had a medium level of knowledge and held positive attitudes on the detection and reporting of elder abuse, but the actual number of cases they detected and reported was low. Senior orthopedists had the highest level of knowledge and also the most positive attitudes, followed by orthopedic residents, and then orthopedic interns. Common reasons for unwillingness to report cases of elder abuse differed between levels of training. A minority of the orthopedists had received training on the detection and management of elder abuse. Higher knowledge and more positive attitudes were found associated with a higher number of detected and reported cases of elder abuse.

CONCLUSIONS

The importance of training orthopedists on the detection and management of elder abuse cannot be overemphasized. It seems that orthopedists should receive such training early in their career.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.