Citation

Short NA, Sullivan J, Soward A, Bollen KA, Liberzon I, Martin S, Rauch SAM, Bell K, Rossi CH, Lechner M, Novak C, Witkemper K, Kessler RC, McLean SA. BMJ Open 2019; 9(11): e031087.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031087

PMID

31753875

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, an estimated 10%-27% of women are sexually assaulted during their lifetime. Despite the enormity of sexual assault as a public health problem, to our knowledge, no large-scale prospective studies of experiences and recovery over time among women presenting for emergency care after sexual assault have been performed.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Women ≥18 years of age who present for emergency care within 72 hours of sexual assault to a network of treatment centres across the USA are approached for study participation. Blood DNA and RNA samples and brief questionnaire and medical record data are obtained from women providing initial consent. Full consent is obtained at initial 1 week follow-up to analyse blood sample data and to perform assessments at 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year. These assessments include evaluation of survivor life history, current health and recovery and experiences with treatment providers, law enforcement and the legal system. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study is approved by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the IRB of each participating study site. We hope to present the results of this study to the scientific community at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.

Language: en

Keywords

pain; posttraumatic stress; sexual assault