title: Responding to Delayed Disclosure of Sexual Assault in Health Settings: A Systematic Review.
abstract: Few adolescent and adult women seek out formal support services in the acute period (7 days or less) following a sexual assault. Instead, many women choose to disclose weeks, months, or even years later. This delayed disclosure may be challenging to support workers, including those in health-care settings, who lack the knowledge and skills to respond effectively. We conducted a systematic literature review of health-care providers' responses to delayed disclosure by adolescent and adult female sexual assault survivors. Our primary objective was to determine how health-care providers can respond appropriately when presented with a delayed sexual assault disclosure in their practice. Arising out of this analysis, a secondary objective was to document recommendations from the articles for health-care providers on how to create an environment conducive to disclosing and support disclosure in their practice. These recommendations for providing an appropriate response and supporting disclosure are summarized.
authors.affiliation: 1 Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|2 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanthier
authors.affiliation: 1 Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|2 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du Mont
authors.affiliation: 1 Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|2 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D024382:Professional Role; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011902:Rape; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adolescent victims; adult victims; reporting/disclosure; sexual assault; support seeking