Eliminating a gap on child maltreatment in a developing country: A comprehensive web-based training for future counselors

Abstract

Background: Public personnel working in the fields of education and health are the primary professionals in Turkey responsible for recognizing issues related to child maltreatment. Therefore, it is crucial for them to be knowledgeable about the legal and guidance processes to follow. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a web-based training on child maltreatment (CM) for undergraduate students. The goal was to determine whether the students would gain knowledge and awareness about the signs of child maltreatment, along with a positive attitude towards reporting. Participants and Setting: The sample consisted of 85 counseling candidates (42 received the training and 43 did not). Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a control group to examine the effectiveness of the program. Pre-test, post-test, and 6-month follow-up data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA. Results: Participants who attended the program showed greater improvement compared to those who did not receive training, although some of these improvements were only partial. Conclusion: Overall, the study demonstrated the effectiveness of a comprehensive web-based program on CM for future counselors, although its effectiveness was partial in some areas. Future research should consider testing programs with different content, using different samples, and investigating programs that can be delivered in shorter time frames.