When multidisciplinary clinical practice and research meet: Quality development in the Danish Children Centers

Abstract

Background

Collaboration between clinical practice and research is often warranted. Extended periods of collaboration integrating research and practice is however rare. This article is about a series of joint research projects through the course of 8 years involving the Danish Center of Psychotraumatology and five regional centres dedicated to combating the sequelae of child abuse across Denmark.

Method

We describe the development of a standardized assessment battery and how this work evolves, analyses of administrative data, what happens after the assessment, the impact of working with child abuse on employees, profiles of abuse that vary by gender, national conferences and training programs, and international collaboration.

Result

The collaboration between research and practice against child abuse has been seminal and is still ongoing. We have learnt about new problem areas and have produced information that can be used to serve children, employees, and civil society in better ways.

Discussion

This work is inspired by and aligns with initiatives abroad pertaining the construction of Children Centers, of assessments tools and child abuse trauma research.

Conclusion

Mutual respect, dedication, and patient persistence pave the way for significant results in a committed relationship.

Plain language summary

This article describes and reflect upon a year-long collaboration between a multidisciplinary clinical organization, the Danish Children Centers, and a research centre, the Danish Center of Psychotraumatology who have joined forces to provide the best help for children exposed to physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. The article describes the collaboration on developing a trauma-focused, developmentally sensitive psychological assessment battery for children of all ages. The article thereafter describes and reflects upon other projects of the collaboration that benefit both research and practice, including the establishment of data base for studying the psychological state of children exposed to abuse and related studies on child abuse; evaluations of the Children Centers practices; examinations of care and treatment for abused and traumatized children, training of staff and other interested parties; and examination and prevention of secondary traumatization among the Children Centers staff. With mutual respect for all professions, dedication, and patient persistence a professional collaboration can evolve.