Citation

Méndez RM, Kulbok P, Lawson S, Matos A. J. Forensic Nurs. 2013; 9(2): 120-126.

Affiliation

Author Affiliations:1 University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, 2University of Virginia, 3University of Miami, and 4University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, International Association of Forensic Nurses, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1097/JFN.0b013e31827a1e30

PMID

24158134

Abstract

Sexual violence is a public health problem in Puerto Rico (PR), with an incidence of 7.4 cases for every 10,000 people during 2005-2006 (Departamento de Salud Secretaría Auxiliar de Salud Familiar y Servicios Integrados, 2007). Findings from the literature review indicated that the traditional model of care provided to the victims of sexual violence in the Emergency Department is incomplete; furthermore, it may cause revictimization because of the attitudes, behaviors, and practices of the community service providers, resulting in additional trauma. Emerging evidence demonstrates that Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs are providing effective quality care. In PR, SANEs do not intervene in sexual assault cases; nevertheless, the Department of Health of PR has recognized the importance of SANE intervention. Consequently, there is a need for current evidence-based protocols and standards of care to describe the procedures, roles, and responsibilities for the provision of quality care to victims. This project involves the implementation of the Stufflebeam's Context-Input-Process-Product Model in the creation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico National Protocol for the Management of Victims of Sexual Violence: Adults/Adolescents.

Language: en