Understanding and experience of the medical forensic examination after sexual assault: protocol for a mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Victim survivors of sexual assault can potentially benefit from attending a medical forensic examination when it is provided by an integrated, multidisciplinary team in a trauma-informed way. Instead of being retraumatising, the examination is intended to be reassuring.

Methods and analysis

This study will explore the understanding and experience of the medical forensic examination from a population of patients who attend after a recent sexual assault. The study will also explore the barriers to attending from a population of victim survivors who did not present for a medical forensic examination. The awareness of sexual assault services will be explored through a general population survey. This project is comprised of four substudies: (1) a patient feedback que

SUBMITTER: Stewart ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11865777 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature