The Evaluation Of Knowledge And Attitude Of Emergency Physicians In Writing Forensic Reports
Yücel Yavuz1, Y. Yürümez, H. Küçüker, R. Demirel, İ. İkizceli, O. Akdur
1Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Acil Tıp Anabilim Dalı
2Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Adli Anabilim Dalı
3Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Halk Sağlığı Anabilim Dalı
4Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Acil Tıp Anabilim Dalı, Kayseri
Keywords: Emergency medicine, Forensic reports, Emergency deparment, Forensic medicine education
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In our country, to be the first physician examining and treating the forensic cases makes emergency physicians to write the forensic reports. Physicians should care attention to some basic features in arrangement of forensic reports.
METHOD: In this study, by using questionnaires, we wanted to evaluate knowledge and attitude of totaly 44 emergency medicine residents and specialists, working in Erciyes, Selçuk, Fırat and Gaziantep Universities Hospitals, in writing forensic reports.
RESULTS: For physicians enrolled into the study, the mean duration of working at emergency department was 3.2±2.7 years (min-max: 0.5-11), whereas total duration of working as a physician was 6.6±3.1 years (min- max: 2-14). All physicians had forensic medicine lectures during medical education, but 93.2% of physicians didn’t get any lecture in postgraduate education programs. Mean scores of physicians to evaluate the knowledge in writing forensic reports was 40±12.4 points (min-max: 20-70). No correlation was found in comparision of physicians’ knowledge with time of graduation and duration of working in emergency deparment.
CONCLUSION: We found that, emergency physicians do not have enough knowledge of writing forensic reports. For appropiate and accurate forensic reports, postgraduate forensic medicine education must be performed. Forensic medicine and emergency medicine cooperation must be encouraged.