Examination for sexual assault: evaluating the literature for indicators of women-centered care.
This study aimed to assess the extent to which recent peer-reviewed published literature on the acute management of sexual assault was women-centered. We developed indicators and a framework that operationalized women-centered care provision in the context of sexual assault. We then reviewed and evaluated the literature in relation to these indicators. A systematic search identified a total of 20 relevant articles for inclusion in the analysis. These were published in medical journals (65%, 13/20), nursing journals (20%, 4/20), and journals targeted toward other health care practitioners (15%, 3/20), and originated from the United States (65%, 13/20), the United Kingdom (15%, 3/20), Australia (10%, 2/20), Spain (5%, 1/20), and Canada (5%, 1/20) between January 2000 and August 2005. We found little acknowledgment of the inherent tensions faced by sexual assault examiners in providing women-centered care. Moreover, absent from most articles were discussions of the complexities of consent in sexual assault examinations, social justice issues, the need for gender-sensitive training for health care providers, and a critical appraisal of colposcopic and DNA technologies. Indicators of respect, safety and restoring control, and connections to community were present in the majority of articles.
McGregor
Margaret J
MJ
Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, 828 West 10th Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. mrgret@telus.net
Du Mont
Janice
J
White
Deborah
D
Coombes
Megan E
ME
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*