Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi iskustvo, znanje te stavove liječnika primarne zdravstvene zaštite u Republici Hrvatskoj o zlostavljanju i zanemarivanju djece. Istraživanjem su obuhvaćena 253 pedijatra i 2524 liječnika opće, obiteljske i školske medicine, kojima je poslan upitnik na adresu zaposlenja. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da se liječnici koji su se uključili u istraživanje (78 pedijatara i 512 liječnika opće, obiteljske i školske medicine) vrlo rijetko, odnosno ponekad, susreću s problemom zlostavljanja i zanemarivanja djece te iako im je uglavnom jasna njihova profesionalna uloga, svjesni su da nemaju dovoljno znanja i nisu dovoljno educirani u ovom području. Gotovo 86% pedijatara i 83% liječnika opće, obiteljske i školske medicine želi se dodatno educirati u području zlostavljanja i zanemarivanja djece. Navedeni rezultati, kao i podatak o malom broju liječnika koji prijavljuje zlostavljanje i zanemarivanje djece, upozoravaju na potrebu sveobuhvatne edukacije liječnika u Republici Hrvatskoj iz područja zaštite djece.The aim of this research was to investigate the Croatian primary health care doctors\u27 experience, expertise and attitudes about child abuse and neglect. The research included 253 paediatricians and 2524 general practitioners, family doctors and school children doctors. They were sent a questionnaire to their workplaces. The results showed that doctors who filled out the questionnaire (78 paediatricians and 512 general practitioners, family doctors and school children doctors) only rarely or occasionally detected the problem of abuse. Although they clearly take their duties professionally, they are aware that they have not had enough education and consequently they do not have enough knowledge in this field. Up to 86% of paediatricians and 83% of general practitioners, family doctors and school children doctors want further education in the field of child abuse and neglect. The obtained results, as well as the data on the small number of doctors who refer abuse and neglect, indicate that there is a need for comprehensive education of doctors in Croatia in the field of child protection
