@article{ref1,
title="Does the BuRN-Tool score correctly predict cases of maltreatment in children referred for a child protection medical assessment?",
journal="Child abuse review",
year="2021",
author="Evans, Eleanor J. and Bennett, C. Verity and Hollén, Linda and Nuttall, Diane and Kemp, Alison and Mullen, Stephen",
volume="30",
number="6",
pages="565-575",
abstract="The BuRN-Tool is a clinical prediction tool designed to indicate child protection (CP) concerns for children attending the emergency department with a burn. Eight weighted factors contribute to a summative score between 0 and 12, a score ≥3 indicates a CP concern. In order to test agreement of the BuRN-Tool score with CP concern and with the social care CP outcome, it was applied retrospectively to 52 children referred for a CP medical evaluation following a burn. Data were collected from case notes using a purpose-designed proforma and a score calculated for each. Outcomes were classified as 'maltreatment-probable' ('physical abuse' or 'neglect') or 'maltreatment-unlikely', according to social care CP outcomes. The BuRN-Tool correctly identified 49/52 (94.2%) as a CP concern, with scores significantly higher in 'maltreatment-probable' (n = 17) than 'maltreatment-unlikely' cases (n = 35, p = 0.01). Scores for 'maltreatment-unlikely' were lower (median [IQR]: 5 [4-7]) than for maltreatment likely for 'physical abuse' cases (median [IQR]: 8 [7-9]; p = 0.005). 'Maltreatment unlikely' scores did not differ from 'neglect' scores (median [IQR]: 7 [5-7]; p = 0.14), a non-parametric trend test confirmed a significant increase in scores across the three ordered groups (p = 0.003). The BuRN-Tool is not a diagnostic, but a screening tool. Consistent with their referral for a CP evaluation, the majority of children scored >3 on the BuRN-Tool. However, for children where 'maltreatment was probable' the BuRN-Tool scores were higher. Key Practitioner Messages The BuRN-Tool correctly classified 49/52 children who were referred to a CP medical team with a CP concern for assessment following a burn. Cases with an outcome of 'maltreatment-probable' had a significantly higher BuRN-Tool score than those where maltreatment was deemed unlikely. The highest BuRN-Tool scores had the potential to distinguish injuries caused by physical abuse from those where maltreatment was unlikely.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0952-9136",
doi="10.1002/car.2668",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/car.2668"
}