title: Sexual abuse history in GI illness, how do gastroenterologists deal with it?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data support an increased prevalence of sexual abuse (SA) among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) complaints. Sexual abuse causes multiple symptoms related to pelvic floor and stress mediated brain-gut dysfunctions. Treating these patients asks for a holistic approach, using centrally targeted interventions. However, gastroenterologists have never been surveyed regarding their practice patterns and constraints about inquiring into SA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether gastroenterologists address SA in their daily practice and to evaluate their knowledge regarding the implications of SA in GI illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 42-item anonymous questionnaire was mailed to all 402 members of the Dutch Society of Gastroenterology (gastroenterologists and fellows in training). The questionnaire addressed SA and pelvic-floor-related complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results of this survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred eighty-three of the 402 (45.2%) questionnaires were returned. Overall, 4.7% of the respondents asked their female patients regularly about SA; in males, this percentage was 0.6%. Before performing a colonoscopy, these percentages were even smaller (2.4% and 0.6%, respectively). When patients presented with specific complaints, such as chronic abdominal pain or fecal incontinence, 68% of the gastroenterologists asked females about SA and 29% of the males (P < 0.01). The majority of respondents stated it as rather important to receive more training on how to inquire about SA and its implications for treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastroenterologists do not routinely inquire about a history of SA and they rarely ask about it before performing colonoscopy. There is a need for training to acquire the skills and knowledge to deal with SA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. melianthenicolai@gmail.com
authors.forename: Melianthe P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nicolai
authors.forename: Herma H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Fidder
authors.forename: Jack J H
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Milou D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bekker
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Putter
authors.forename: Rob C M
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pelger
authors.forename: Mels F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: van Driel
authors.forename: Henk W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Elzevier
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003625:Data Collection; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult