Diagnostic agreement when comparing still and video imaging for the medical evaluation of child sexual abuse.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2016

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.12.007

Abstract

Still photo imaging is often used in medical evaluations of child sexual abuse (CSA) but video imaging may be superior. We aimed to compare still images to videos with respect to diagnostic agreement regarding hymenal deep notches and transections in post-pubertal females. Additionally, we evaluated the role of experience and expertise on agreement. We hypothesized that videos would result in improved diagnostic agreement of multiple evaluators as compared to still photos. This was a prospective quasi-experimental study using imaging modality as the quasi-independent variable. The dependent variable was diagnostic agreement of participants regarding presence/absence of findings indicating penetrative trauma on non-acute post-pubertal genital exams. Participants were medical personnel who regularly perform CSA exams. Diagnostic agreement was evaluated utilizing a retrospective selection of videos and still photos obtained directly from the videos. Videos and still photos were embedded into an on-line survey as sixteen cases. One-hundred sixteen participants completed the study. Participant diagnosis was more likely to agree with study center diagnosis when using video (p

Journal Title

Child abuse & neglect

Volume

52

First Page

102

Last Page

109

MeSH Keywords

Analysis of Variance; Child; Child Abuse, Sexual; Clinical Competence; Female; Forensic Psychiatry; Humans; Observer Variation; Pediatricians; Photography; Physical Examination; Prospective Studies; Video Recording

Keywords

Child sexual abuse; Child sexual abuse forensics; Inter-rater agreement; Medical evaluation of child sexual abuse

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