Abstract
Sexual assault (SA) is common, but the epidemiology of acute pain after SA has not
previously been reported. We evaluated the severity and distribution of pain symptoms
in the early aftermath of SA among women receiving Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
care, and the treatment of pain by SANE nurses. Severe pain (≥7 on a 0–10 numeric
rating scale) was reported by 53/83 women sexual assault survivors (64% [95% CI, 53–74%])
at the time of SANE evaluation and 43/83 women (52% [95% CI, 41–63%]) 1 week later.
Pain in 4 or more body regions was reported by 44/83 women (53% [95% CI, 42–64%])
at the time of initial evaluation and 49/83 women (59% [95% CI, 48–70%]) at 1 week
follow-up. Among survivors with severe pain at the time of initial postassault evaluation,
only 7/53 (13% [95% CI, 6–26%]) received any pain medication at the time of initial
SANE treatment. These findings suggest that pain is common in SA survivors in the
early postassault period, but rarely treated.
Perspective
Acute pain is common after sexual assault. Practice guidelines for SANE nurses and
others who provide care to sexual assault survivors in the early aftermath of assault
should include specific recommendations for pain evaluation and treatment. Prospective
longitudinal studies of pain outcomes among sexual assault survivors are needed.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 15, 2012
Accepted:
April 30,
2012
Received in revised form:
April 4,
2012
Received:
January 10,
2012
Footnotes
Supported by Award Number UL1RR025747 from the National Center for Research Resources and in part by a Career Development Award (CDA-2) from the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Clinical Sciences (S.A.M.R.).
No conflicts of interest exist for any of the authors.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- The Need to Focus on Pain Management Among Sexual Assault SurvivorsThe Journal of PainVol. 14Issue 3
- PreviewThe recently published paper by McLean et al is important. It highlights that pain is common in sexual assault (SA) survivors but rarely treated. The authors state that treatment of pain is necessary, not only to decrease suffering but also to reduce negative psychological outcomes. The article substantiates that 64% of SA survivors at the time of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) evaluation are in severe pain, while only 13% receive pain medication. Furthermore, 1 week later, 52% of the victims remain in severe pain.
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