Adverse childhood experiences. Knowledge and use by pediatrics residents.

INTRODUCTION

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with the acquisition of risk behaviors and development of chronic and mental diseases since adolescence and in adult life.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the knowledge and the frequency pediatrics residents ask about ACEs with.

METHODS

Through an online survey sent to all resident physicians of the 2017-2018 academic year of a tertiary care children's hospital, demographic variables, knowledge, use, training and barriers to interrogate and search for ACEs were collected.

RESULTS

21% of residents answered the survey; the majority were women (70 %), less than 5 % of participants were familiar with ACEs, 31 % enquired about them in parents and their children, and 71 % considered having some barrier to interrogate about them.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants in this study showed limited knowledge about ACEs, which had an impact on the frequency they enquired about them with in their patients and their parents; at least half had the perception that it is beyond the reach of the pediatrician to identify them.