title: Pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner care: trace forensic evidence, ano-genital injury, and judicial outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although pediatric sexual assault nurse examiners (P-SANEs) have been providing care for over two decades there remain major gaps in the literature describing the quality of P-SANE care and legal outcomes associated with their cases. The purpose of this study was to compare quality indicators of care in a pediatric emergency department (PED) before and after the implementation of a P-SANE program described in terms of trace forensic evidence yield, identification of perpetrator DNA, and judicial outcomes in pediatric acute sexual assault.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of medical and legal records of all patients presenting to the PED at Nationwide Children's Hospital with concerns of acute sexual abuse/assault requiring forensic evidence collection from 1/1/04 to 12/31/07 was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Detection and documentation of ano-genital injury, evaluation and documentation of pregnancy status, and testing for N. gonorrhea and C. trachomatis was significantly improved since implementation of the P-SANE Program compared to the historical control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of a P-SANE to the emergency department (ED) provider team improved the quality of care to child/adolescent victims of acute sexual abuse/assault.
authors.affiliation: Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA. Gail.hornor@nationwidechildrens.org
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hornor
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thackeray
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scribano
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benzinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D001769:Blood; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000635:transmission; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D053604:Forensic Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D005835:Genitalia / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010808:Physical Examination; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011902:Rape / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology; D012661:Semen; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000681:Amylases