The role of community healthcare professionals in discussing sexual assault experiences during obstetrics and gynecological healthcare appointments

Abstract

Abstract Background Nearly half of adult women in the US report experiencing sexual assault, with almost one-fifth reporting rape. For many victims of sexual assault, healthcare professionals are the first point of contact and disclosure. The purpose of this study was to understand how healthcare professionals working in community settings perceived their role in discussing sexual violence experiences with women during obstetrics and gynecological healthcare appointments. The secondary purpose was to compare healthcare professionals’ perspectives with those of the patient to determine how sexual violence conversations should occur in these environments. Methods Data were collected in two phases. Phase 1 consisted of 6 focus groups (Sept-Dec, 2019) with women aged 18–45 (n = 22) living in Indiana who sought community-based or private healthcare for women’s reproductive healthcare needs. Phase 2 included 20 key-informant interviews with non-physician healthcare professionals (i.e., NP, RN, CNM, doula, pharmacist, chiropractor) living in Indiana (September 2019-May 2020) who provided community-based women’s reproductive healthcare. Focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analyses. HyperRESEARCH assisted in data management and organization. Results There were three resulting themes: (1) healthcare professionals’ approaches to screening for a history of sexual violence varied depending on how they ask, what setting they work in, and type of professional is doing the asking; (2) healthcare experiences can compound traumatic experiences and create distrust with survivors; and (3) sexual violence impacts patient healthcare experiences through what services they seek, how professionals may interact with them, and what professionals they are willing to utilize. Conclusions Findings offered insight into actionable and practical strategies for enhancing sexual violence screening and discussions in community-based women’s reproductive health settings. The findings offer strategies to improve by addressing barriers and facilitators among community healthcare professionals and the people they serve. Incorporating healthcare professionals’ and patient experiences and preferences for violence-related discussions during obstetrics and gynecological healthcare appointments can assist in violence prevention efforts, improve patient-professional rapport, and yield better health outcomes.