eprintid: 10156014
rev_number: 6
eprint_status: archive
userid: 699
dir: disk0/10/15/60/14
datestamp: 2022-09-22 09:28:53
lastmod: 2022-09-22 09:28:53
status_changed: 2022-09-22 09:28:53
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 699
creators_name: Maldonado, BN
creators_name: Armitage, AJ
creators_name: Williams, B
title: Variation in initial health assessment of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children: a cross-sectional survey across England
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: G25
divisions: D13
divisions: B02
note: © Author(s) (or their
employer(s)) 2022. Re-use
permitted under CC BY-NC. No
commercial re-use. See rights
and permissions. Published by
BMJ.
abstract: Objective: To assess variation in current practice of initial health assessments (IHAs) for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) across England.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Main outcomes measures: Type of routine assessment carried out, threshold to specialist referrals and facilities available to complete IHA.

Results: Eighty-six health professionals responded across England; 47% had received training in UASC IHA and 33% in UASC mental health issues. The majority (80%) of IHAs were conducted with translator support and 7% of participants reported Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) input. Around half of clinicians (53%) performed tuberculosis and bloodborne virus screening for all UASC, while other infectious diseases (IDs) screening was symptom and risk factor dependent. Overall, 14% of clinicians routinely comment on age assessment and 76% share the IHA report and health plan with UASC. The time allocated for assessment range between 30 and 90 min.

Conclusion: There is significant variation in practice around UASC IHAs across England, notably around CAMHS input, time allocated, translation facilities and ID screening. The results suggest that, an increase in resources available for UASC teams, improved access to specialist services and further training on UASC health are all needed. Guidance that aims to set a best practice framework for UASC IHA delivery such as a ‘one-stop shop’ model would help to standardise UASC IHA across the country.
date: 2022-04-22
date_type: published
publisher: BMJ
official_url: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001435
oa_status: green
full_text_type: pub
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 1966164
doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001435
lyricists_name: Armitage, Alice
lyricists_id: AJARM34
actors_name: Kalinowski, Damian
actors_id: DKALI47
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: public
publication: BMJ Paediatrics Open
volume: 6
number: 1
article_number: e001435
issn: 2399-9772
citation:        Maldonado, BN;    Armitage, AJ;    Williams, B;      (2022)    Variation in initial health assessment of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children: a cross-sectional survey across England.                   BMJ Paediatrics Open , 6  (1)    , Article e001435.  10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001435 <https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001435>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10156014/1/Armitage_Variation%20in%20initial%20health%20assessment%20of%20unaccompanied%20asylum-seeking%20children_VoR.pdf