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1. Sexual Assault Victims FAMSAC Patient Centred Practices FAMSACForensic and Medical Sexual Assault Care
Dr Vanita Parekh
Cassandra Beaumont-Brown RN RM
Start by looking at a fairly typical case of sexual assault
Try to see it from the patient perspective
How we may address them and indeed focus on them as the first priority
Look at some data with regard to future changes
Start by looking at a fairly typical case of sexual assault
Try to see it from the patient perspective
How we may address them and indeed focus on them as the first priority
Look at some data with regard to future changes
2. A common scenario 19 year old woman
Celebrating friend’s birthday
At a pub
Chats to some people at the next table
Offered a lift to a party
Driven to an oval
Vaginally and orally raped
Left in the car park
4. Contd. She walks to some nearby houses
Asks for some help
Police are contacted
Police attend
Taken to SACAT offices
6. Her situation She is stunned by what has happened
‘Acute Rape Trauma Syndrome’
Access to care difficult
She made it to the police
Non-reporting is the norm
7. Common concerns Confidentiality Paramount
Family and significant others knowing about the assault
People outside her family knowing she had been sexually assaulted
Blame
People thinking it was her fault or that she was responsible
Medical Concerns
Becoming pregnant
Contracting a sexually transmitted infection not including HIV/AIDS
Contracting HIV/AIDS
8. Accessing care Need high levels of organisational ability
Acute Rape Trauma Syndrome
Transport
Ambivalence
Male survivors unlikely to access care
9. Common concerns male survivors Majority of literature is based on female SA
Male sexual assault survivors own requirements
Common sexuality misconceptions
HIV common concern
PEP
More likely to have injuries
Less likely to report
10. Victim gender The history of males reporting in the ACT thro AFP has been very low. These are men accessing medical care probably underreoprtedThe history of males reporting in the ACT thro AFP has been very low. These are men accessing medical care probably underreoprted
11. Ability to access careAge of victim at time of assault By CARAU under 14By CARAU under 14
12. Concerns of the patient/ Concerns of the services
13. Some FAMSAC concerns Serious injuries?
Forensic medical examination?
Collect evidence ASAP
Emergency contraception
Sexually transmitted infections
Patient safety
Emotional support
…….
14. Addressing the needs of the survivor Think about their situation
Address their concerns
Report to a nation
Female and male survivors
?
Patient centred approach
15. The ACT situation (prior to July 2001) Access to care difficult
Different sites of specialised care
Forensic (SACAT)
Injury (A&E)
STI
Contraception (Family Planning)
Counselling
Seek out care
Forensic medical practitioners recruitment
unsuccessful
16. Moving to the patientLocation of assessment Patient centered approach incorporates all aspects of care and moving to the patientPatient centered approach incorporates all aspects of care and moving to the patient
17. Moving to the patientCall-out nature of service 24 hour service
Large component is after hours24 hour service
Large component is after hours
18. Addressing medical needsEmergency Contraception and HIV PEP PEP to males
EC and PEP address the medical needs if appropriatePEP to males
EC and PEP address the medical needs if appropriate
19. Biting the bullet ACT government backing
20. ACT Government backing Dr Klara Soos
Senior health policy adviser
People making the service
Contract
Provide coordinated/integrated sexual assault care
‘Doctors receive training to a nationally accredited standard’
?
Lead to patient centred care
21. What is FAMSAC? Integrated medical and forensic sexual assault care service
Based at The Canberra Hospital
Established in July 2001
Budget initiative
Coordinated service for sexual assault victims
22. Working with other agenciesReferral Agency
23. Juggling together The patient picks the balls Reporting formal or Anonymous reporting
Information given to the patient to make a choice about reportingReporting formal or Anonymous reporting
Information given to the patient to make a choice about reporting
24. Patient choiceForensic Vs. Medical Only Examination
25. FAMSAC nurse coordinator Coordinates care for victims
Provides specialist nursing follow up care
85% in 24-48 hrs
Maintains supplies for medical practitioners
Education program organisation
Court support for doctors
Maintaining a database
Service planning decisions
Barriers to follow up
Community Considerations
26. Community considerationsAssailant identity Most sexual assaults from known assailantsMost sexual assaults from known assailants
27. Community considerations Location of assault
28. Medical implicationsVictim’s Body Site Penetrated
29. Medical implicationsCondom Use Unknown minor detailUnknown minor detail
30. FAMSAC doctors Dedicated educated clinicians
Sexual assault care medical practitioners
Ongoing education
Forensically aware
Sample collection
Expert witness training
Prepared to go to court
Extensive experience in women’s health
Extensive experience in men’s sexual health
Cohesive group
31. Patient Survey (N=50) 198 Voluntary survey
Anonymous
Carried out at follow up
100% patients felt they were treated with respect
92% enough procedural information
8% not answered
32. Patient Survey (N=50) 198Comments ‘found the advice helpful at a difficult time’
‘I feel like they really care about me’
‘I was respected, educated and supported’
‘I was given lots of information to take home, that helped a lot’
33. Follow up Free, easily accessible, on their terms
All found it satisfactory
85% at 24-48hrs
66% at 3/12
‘I was told things I wouldn’t have known to ask about’
34. Where to from now ?-Our wish list Database
Identify patient concerns
Review our practice
Adapt to patient needs
Track patients through the system
Local data
FAMSAC Australia
Equity of care across the nation