The effectiveness of a Midwestern sexual assault response team in initial response to sexual assault victims
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the initial response
of a Midwestern sexual assault response team (SART) to sexual assault victims. Sexual
assault response teams were developed to provide more coordinated care to the victims
of sexual assault and are comprised of community agencies, including law enforcement,
advocacy, sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE), and human services.
Neuman's System Model was used as a framework for this study, with specific
focus on secondary intervention as it related to the initial response of the SART to
victims of sexual assault. This theory supports the efforts of SART to provide holistic
care to victims of sexual assault, and to assist them in moving towards a state of health.
Descriptive data from a convenience sample (n = 81) was utilized in this pilot
study. An investigator-developed tool was utilized to collect quantitative, descriptive
data. Agency personnel involved in SART from law enforcement, human services,
advocacy, and SANE collected this retrospective data.
Findings revealed demographic similarities between the convenience sample and
national samples. Results indicated that most victims consented to law enforcement
involvement and follow-up with victim advocacy. Further data collection is needed to fully
evaluate the effectiveness of the initial response of the SART.
Subject
Sex crimes
Nurse-Patient Relations
Sexual abuse victims
Services for rape victims
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/35520Description
A Clinical Paper Submitted
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For the Degree of
Master of Science in Nursing -
Family Nurse Practitioner
--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 2009