TY - JOUR

T1 - The evidence base for routine enquiry into adverse childhood experiences: A scoping review

AU - Ford, Katharine

AU - Hughes, Karen

AU - Hardcastle, Katie

AU - Di Lemma, Lisa

AU - Davies, Alisha

AU - Edwards, Sara

AU - Bellis, Mark

PY - 2019/5

Y1 - 2019/5

N2 - BackgroundExposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; e.g., maltreatment, household dysfunction) is associated with a multiplicity of negative outcomes throughout the life course. Consequently, increasing interest is being paid to the application of routine enquiry for ACEs to enable identification and direct interventions to mitigate their harms.ObjectiveTo explore the evidence base for retrospective routine enquiry in adults for ACEs, including feasibility and acceptability amongst practitioners, service user acceptability and outcomes from implementation.MethodsA scoping review of the literature was conducted, drawing upon three databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) and manual searching and citation tracking. Searches included studies published from 1997 until end of April 2018 examining enquiry into ACEs, or the feasibility/acceptability of such enquiry across any setting. All included studies presented empirical findings, with studies focusing on screening for current adversities excluded.ResultsSearches retrieved 380 articles, of which 15 met the eligibility criteria. A narrative approach to synthesize the data was utilized. Four studies examined practitioner feasibility and/or acceptability of enquiry, three reported service user acceptability and six studies implemented routine ACE enquiry (not mutually exclusive categories). Further, eight studies explored current practice and practitioner attitudes towards ACE enquiry.ConclusionsLimited literature was found providing evidence for outcomes from enquiry. No studies examined impacts on service user health or service utilization. Few studies explored feasibility or acceptability to inform the application of routine ACE enquiry. The implementation of routine ACE enquiry therefore needs careful consideration. Focus should remain on evaluating developing models of ACE enquiry to advance understanding of its impact.

AB - BackgroundExposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; e.g., maltreatment, household dysfunction) is associated with a multiplicity of negative outcomes throughout the life course. Consequently, increasing interest is being paid to the application of routine enquiry for ACEs to enable identification and direct interventions to mitigate their harms.ObjectiveTo explore the evidence base for retrospective routine enquiry in adults for ACEs, including feasibility and acceptability amongst practitioners, service user acceptability and outcomes from implementation.MethodsA scoping review of the literature was conducted, drawing upon three databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) and manual searching and citation tracking. Searches included studies published from 1997 until end of April 2018 examining enquiry into ACEs, or the feasibility/acceptability of such enquiry across any setting. All included studies presented empirical findings, with studies focusing on screening for current adversities excluded.ResultsSearches retrieved 380 articles, of which 15 met the eligibility criteria. A narrative approach to synthesize the data was utilized. Four studies examined practitioner feasibility and/or acceptability of enquiry, three reported service user acceptability and six studies implemented routine ACE enquiry (not mutually exclusive categories). Further, eight studies explored current practice and practitioner attitudes towards ACE enquiry.ConclusionsLimited literature was found providing evidence for outcomes from enquiry. No studies examined impacts on service user health or service utilization. Few studies explored feasibility or acceptability to inform the application of routine ACE enquiry. The implementation of routine ACE enquiry therefore needs careful consideration. Focus should remain on evaluating developing models of ACE enquiry to advance understanding of its impact.

KW - adverse childhood experiences

KW - Routine enquiry

KW - Screening

KW - Abuse

KW - Neglect

U2 - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.03.007

DO - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.03.007

M3 - Article

VL - 91

SP - 131

EP - 146

JO - Child Abuse and Neglect

JF - Child Abuse and Neglect

SN - 0145-2134

IS - May

ER -