Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening in Adulthood: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Self-efficacy Among Tennessee Nurse Practitioners

Despite the prevalence of adverse childhood events (ACEs) and the relationship with negative health outcomes in adults, research shows clinical use of ACE screening is low among healthcare providers including nurse practitioners (NPs). The scholarly project’s purpose was to examine how Tennessee NP knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy influence intentions to screen for ACEs related to childhood trauma or abuse in adult patients. Using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model as the theoretical framework, a cross-sectional and exploratory design assessed the association of NPs’ ACE screening knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy on the NPs’ intention to screen for ACEs in adult patients. A reliable survey was adapted with permission and sent to a purposive, convenience sample of licensed NPs across regions of Tennessee from September to November 2021. Survey results were analyzed using chi-square statistics to assess for correlations between Tennessee NPs’ ACE knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy along with the NPs’ intention to screen for ACEs in adult patients. Of the 174 participants, 24.7% reported usually/always screening in new female patients and 16.7% reported usually/always screening in new male patients for any history of childhood physical or sexual abuse. Knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy were positively correlated with NP ACE screening intentions (p = \u3c.001). Results of this project add to current research confirming that ACE screening is low among healthcare providers. Limited knowledge, personal attitudes, objective abilities, perceptions of self-efficacy, and competing clinical priorities are associated with the NP’s intention to screen for ACEs in adult patients