Prevention of child maltreatment (CM) remains a public health priority in Canada; approximately one-third of Canadians report exposure to at least one form of CM. Physicians play an important role in recognizing and responding to CM and its associated sequelae. However, increasing evidence indicates that physicians receive insufficient training related to recognizing and responding to CM. CM education is especially pertinent during the pediatric and psychiatry residency period but it remains unclear what the optimal approach is for preparing Canadian physicians with the knowledge and skills to effectively recognize and respond to CM. Those educational interventions that have been evaluated in medical education contexts have comparatively little emphasis on the complex overlap between IPV, children's exposure to IPV, and other forms of CM. The Violence, Evidence, Guidance, Action Project (VEGA) is a novel educational intervention that has the potential to improve the preparation of physicians to be able to effectively recognize and respond to CM in their clinical encounters and takes into account this complex overlap. The purpose of this study is to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a future randomized-controlled trial comparing two approaches to administering the VEGA intervention, facilitator-led or self-directed VEGA and whether/how these approaches can support residents' education. The investigators hypothesize that there will be significant increases in preparedness, knowledge and skills, and self-efficacy to recognize and respond to CM in both the experimental and AC arms from Time 1 (baseline) to Time 2 (immediately after the intervention) and Time 1 (baseline) to Time 3 (3 month follow-up). The investigators also predict that these improvements will be slightly attenuated in the experimental arm. Qualitative data pertaining to perceived value and impact will corroborate the quantitative findings.
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Number of Residents Who Meet Eligibility Criteria
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 4 months
Number of Residents who Consent
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 4 months
Number of Residents who Complete Assigned Intervention
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 4 months
Number of Residents who Complete Assessments
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 4 months