Traumeinstrumentet Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure scale (MACE)

Abstract

The Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure scale (MACE) trauma questionnaire Background: A 55-item Norwegian version of the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure (MACE) scale was recently developed. For clinicians to apply MACE, they need to perceive the instrument as acceptable to patients and useful. We investigated clinicians’ experiences and views of the acceptability, usefulness and application of MACE. Method: Twenty-three clinicians recorded their perceptions of how unpleasant it was for 84 adult patients to complete MACE, 20 clinicians answered a survey about MACE, and eight clinicians attended focus group interviews to detail their experiences and views. Results: According to the clinicians, the MACE form was sufficiently self-explanatory to function as a questionnaire. Clinicians considered MACE as emotionally tolerable for most patients. They reported that some patients had strong negative reactions but that these patients did not regret participating. The majority of clinicians found MACE to be useful. Based on their experiences, they proposed ways of utilising MACE in clinical practice. Conclusion: MACE appears applicable and useful to clinicians in an outpatient setting. Possible negative patient reactions should be taken into account when administering the instrument. Keywords: MACE; trauma instrument; clinicians’ perceptions; acceptability, usefulness, application