title: Victims' use of professional services in a Dutch sexual assault centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prior research endorsed the establishment of sexual assault centres in the Netherlands because of the potential benefit for victims' mental recovery. In 2012, the first Dutch sexual assault centre was founded at the University Medical Center Utrecht. The aim of the centre is to provide 24/7 coordinated and integrated services (i.e., medical, forensic, and psychological) in one location.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to describe demographic, background, and assault characteristics of victims seen at the centre within one week post-assault, and their use of post-assault services in order to improve current services.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2012 to September 2013, prospective data of 108 patients were collected. To describe the population included, frequency counts and proportions were generated for categorical variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 21.3 years (SD=9.8). Most victims were female (91.7%). A large proportion of victims reported background characteristics known to increase the risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and revictimisation such as prior sexual abuse (32.4%), pre-existing use of mental health services (45.4%), and not living with both biological parents (61.7%). Most patients (88.9%) consulted the centre within 72 hours post-assault. The uptake of services was high: 82.4% received emergency medical care, 61.7% underwent a forensic-medical exam, 34% reported to the police, and 82.4% utilised psychological services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To prevent revictimisation and PTSD, current psychological services could be improved with immediate trauma-focused treatments. Current forensic services may be improved with the use of standard top to toe forensic-medical examinations for both children and adults.
authors: National Psychotrauma Center for Children and Youth, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Iva
authors: I
authors: Bicanic
authors: National Psychotrauma Center for Children and Youth, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Hanneke
authors: H
authors: Snetselaar
authors: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry in Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands ; School of Health Sciences, Salford University, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors: Ad
authors: A
authors: De Jongh
authors: Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: Elise
authors: E
authors: Van de Putte
keywords: Assault; emergency care; mental health; post-traumatic stress disorder; sexual assault