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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 July 2023
This quality improvement project aimed to improve mental health professionals' understanding and confidence in management and support of patients in the general adult inpatient setting who have disclosed sexual assault. It also aimed to improve patients' experience of support following their disclosure of sexual assault.
Baseline knowledge and understanding was evaluated using an anonymous questionnaire sent to staff.
Stakeholders were identified from medical, nursing, police, FME and third sector agencies and patient advocacy – their expertise was utilised to develop standardised guidance.
The intervention included an education session delivered at site-wide teaching, and the creation of a procedure with associated resources for staff reference.
Teaching sessions and guidance were based on this expertise to fill knowledge gaps identified in the baseline knowledge questionnaire.
The questionnaire was subsequently redistributed and collected to analyse for an improvement in knowledge and confidence.
Initial questionnaires presented qualitative and quantitative data suggesting lack of confidence and understanding of the processes involved in reporting and management of disclosed sexual assault.
Post-intervention dataset analysis shows an improvement in staff understanding, confidence and access to appropriate resources in management of sexual assault in the general adult inpatient population.
Prior to the project there was no protocol for the management of disclosed sexual assault in the local general adult inpatient population.
This left uncertainty amongst staff regarding the appropriate steps to take. This resulted in an increased risk of crucial time windows not being considered associated with a potential loss of evidence.
The Quality Improvement project improved staff confidence regarding management of disclosed sexual assaults thus optimising patient outcomes and experience when reporting assault.
Abstracts were reviewed by the RCPsych Academic Faculty rather than by the standard BJPsych Open peer review process and should not be quoted as peer-reviewed by BJPsych Open in any subsequent publication.
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