The focus of this retrospective, descriptive study is to describe non-anogenital and anogenital injuries documented in over 5,000 sexual assault forensic medical examination (SAFME) reports of female patients. The study findings expand understanding of injuries documented following sexual assault by exploring associations between injuries and a multitude of variables: patient demographics (age, race, gender); time between assault and examination; patient-perpetrator relationship; perpetrator actions (strangulation, hit, verbally threatened/coerced, use of restraints, grabbed/held); number of assaultive acts; multiple-perpetrators; suspected drug-facilitated assaults; patient and perpetrator use of alcohol and drugs; and physically or mentally impaired patients. The various types and locations of injuries are discussed in relationship to assault history. Implications of findings on forensic nursing practice are shared to improve patient assessment and care. In addition, methods to share findings with interdisciplinary partners, including law enforcement and criminal justice system professionals, are described to improve interdisciplinary collaboration and education.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BGMYU2/oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-9954 |
| Date | 07 April 2021 |
| Creators | Bradshaw, Atalie M |
| Publisher | BYU ScholarsArchive |
| Source Sets | Brigham Young University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/ |
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