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General practice trainees’ understanding of post-sexual assault care: the impact of a specialist educational intervention

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Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Sexual assault (SA) is a highly prevalent issue, with significant adverse health sequelae. Given that general practitioners (GPs) may serve as the first point of contact for many SA victims, their awareness of post-SA care and appropriate understanding of referral pathways to a sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) are critically important. This study evaluated GP trainees’ knowledge of and comfort with post-SA care.

Methods

Educational intervention study using a didactic teaching session was delivered by a specialist forensic examiner on post-SA care. A pre and post-study questionnaire was implemented to assess participants’ knowledge and comfort levels with subject material. Significance was set at p-value below 0.05.

Results

Seventy-five GP-trainees attended the teaching session. Fifty-three completed the pre-teaching questionnaire and 50 completed the post-teaching questionnaire. Only a minority of trainees had received prior teaching in post-SA care as a medical student (13.2% n = 7) or as a postgraduate (28.3% n = 15). After the teaching session, there was a significant improvement trainees’ comfort levels in explaining a forensic examination (p < 0.0001), referral pathways to a SATU (p < 0.0001) and offering advice in relation to emergency contraception (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant improvement in understanding HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) (p < 0.001) and forensic examination (FE) time-lines (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study reveals that GP-trainees have had limited exposure to teaching on post-SA care. Additionally, significant improvements were observed following a 1-h didactic teaching session on post-SA care. Trainees demonstrated increased understanding of SATU referral pathways, understanding of immediate medical care after SA, including PEP and FE timelines.

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Data availability

Data set available with reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Daniel Kane, Karen Flood & Maeve Eogan

  2. Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Ireland

    Daniel Kane & Maeve Eogan

  3. School of Medicine, University of Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland

    Kieran M. Kennedy

Authors
  1. Daniel Kane
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  2. Kieran M. Kennedy
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  4. Maeve Eogan
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Correspondence to Daniel Kane.

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Ethical approval was granted by Research Ethics Committee of the Rotunda Hospital (REC-2023–014).

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Kane, D., Kennedy, K.M., Flood, K. et al. General practice trainees’ understanding of post-sexual assault care: the impact of a specialist educational intervention. Ir J Med Sci (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-023-03576-3

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