Use of clinical vignettes to assess health care professionals’ identification and response to elder abuse in dementia care: a cross-sectional study

Elder abuse affects nearly 15% of older Australians, with those living with dementia at increased risk. This study explored how Australian health care providers identify and respond to different types of elder abuse using six hypothetical vignettes. An online cross-sectional survey (N = 130) evaluated identification and response to instances of elder abuse among geriatricians, general practitioners, and nurse practitioners. Rates of accurate identification were highest for physical (94.3%) and psychological abuse (91.5%), followed by sexual abuse (76.1%), neglect (72.3%), and financial abuse (72%). While most participants provided an appropriate response to psychological abuse, neglect, and financial abuse (100%, 100%, 97.8%), fewer reported an appropriate response to physical (37%) and sexual (67%) abuse. Older age was associated with lower identification accuracy for psychological and physical abuse. General practitioners were more likely to correctly identify neglect. Findings highlight important knowledge and response gaps, underscoring the need for targeted education and training.