Acute severe pain is a common consequence of sexual assault.
Sexual assault (SA) is common, but the epidemiology of acute pain after SA has not previously been reported. We evaluated the severity and distribution of pain symptoms in the early aftermath of SA among women receiving Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) care, and the treatment of pain by SANE nurses. Severe pain (≥7 on a 0-10 numeric rating scale) was reported by 53/83 women sexual assault survivors (64% [95% CI, 53-74%]) at the time of SANE evaluation and 43/83 women (52% [95% CI, 41-63%]) 1 week later. Pain in 4 or more body regions was reported by 44/83 women (53% [95% CI, 42-64%]) at the time of initial evaluation and 49/83 women (59% [95% CI, 48-70%]) at 1 week follow-up. Among survivors with severe pain at the time of initial postassault evaluation, only 7/53 (13% [95% CI, 6-26%]) received any pain medication at the time of initial SANE treatment. These findings suggest that pain is common in SA survivors in the early postassault period, but rarely treated.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute pain is common after sexual assault. Practice guidelines for SANE nurses and others who provide care to sexual assault survivors in the early aftermath of assault should include specific recommendations for pain evaluation and treatment. Prospective longitudinal studies of pain outcomes among sexual assault survivors are needed.
TRYUMPH Research Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7010, USA. smclean@aims.unc.edu
Samuel A
SA
McLean
April C
AC
Soward
Lauren E
LE
Ballina
Catherine
C
Rossi
Suzanne
S
Rotolo
Rebecca
R
Wheeler
Kelly A
KA
Foley
Jayne
J
Batts
Terry
T
Casto
Renee
R
Collette
Debra
D
Holbrook
Elizabeth
E
Goodman
Sheila A M
SA
Rauch
Israel
I
Liberzon
D059787:Acute Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult