Title of Research
Start Date
17-11-2017 10:00 AM
End Date
17-11-2017 11:30 AM
Abstract
Background: Sexual assault is a crime that leaves long term psychological and physical effects on survivors, including panic attacks, trust issues, somatic body pain, and poor overall health. Seeking out health services is important in treating these lasting effects. However, research is lacking into the health care seeking behaviors of sexually assaulted women and whether or not the sexual assault plays a role into their habits.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the long-term effect that sexual assault has on the health care seeking behavior of female survivors.
Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted that included recent primary peer reviewed sources.
Results: Many factors were discovered to affect the health care seeking habits including fear of the health care provider reaction to disclosure and fear of medical procedures. Sexual assault survivors also expressed more dissatisfaction with health care services than non-assaulted women. Interventions to improve the satisfaction of survivors include provided guidelines to trauma informed care, appropriate responses to disclosure, “inform before perform” care and explanations and reassurance during procedures.
Conclusion: Sexual assault is a crime that leads to long term effects on the survivor. There is a relationship between the sexual assault and future health care seeking behaviors of survivors both during the initial aftermath and in future encounters with HCPs. Interventions by HCPs, including nurses, can ensure better more appropriate care for survivors.
Included in
Healthcare Seeking Behaviors of Sexually Assaulted Women
Background: Sexual assault is a crime that leaves long term psychological and physical effects on survivors, including panic attacks, trust issues, somatic body pain, and poor overall health. Seeking out health services is important in treating these lasting effects. However, research is lacking into the health care seeking behaviors of sexually assaulted women and whether or not the sexual assault plays a role into their habits.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the long-term effect that sexual assault has on the health care seeking behavior of female survivors.
Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted that included recent primary peer reviewed sources.
Results: Many factors were discovered to affect the health care seeking habits including fear of the health care provider reaction to disclosure and fear of medical procedures. Sexual assault survivors also expressed more dissatisfaction with health care services than non-assaulted women. Interventions to improve the satisfaction of survivors include provided guidelines to trauma informed care, appropriate responses to disclosure, “inform before perform” care and explanations and reassurance during procedures.
Conclusion: Sexual assault is a crime that leads to long term effects on the survivor. There is a relationship between the sexual assault and future health care seeking behaviors of survivors both during the initial aftermath and in future encounters with HCPs. Interventions by HCPs, including nurses, can ensure better more appropriate care for survivors.