Toward Effective Discussion of Discipline and Corporal Punishment During Primary Care Visits: Findings From Studies of Doctor-Patient Interaction

Corporal punishment is widely practiced despite evidence of its harm to children. Clinicians can more effectively counsel alternatives if they: • are clear in their own minds about the risks of corporal punishment and its boundaries with reportable child maltreatment; • appreciate parents' justifications for corporal punishment and offer corresponding alternatives; • demonstrate their interest and expertise in matters of child behavior and family dynamics; • practice communication techniques that elicit discussion of psychosocial topics and facilitate mutual problem solving; • let parents take the lead in tailoring alternative disciplinary strategies to the family's unique needs; • start early helping parents understand child behavior in general and their child's temperament and development in particular. Clinicians as a group should demonstrate a united stand against the use of violence within families. Both undergraduate and continuing medical education should involve training in communication skills in general and problem-solving techniques in particular. Pediatricians need more time during their training to learn about child behavior and family dynamics.