Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36881047›Full record

ArticleIn vivo (Athens, Greece)

Forensic Medical Examination After Sexual Violence: Implications Based on Victims' Perceptions.

Laura Berger, Benjamin Tuschy, Stefan Stefanovic, Kathrin Yen, Christel Weiss, Marc Sütterlin, Saskia Spaich, Sebastian Berlit

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in In vivo (Athens, Greece). The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Laura BergerDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; laura.berger@umm.de.
Benjamin TuschyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Stefan StefanovicDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Kathrin YenInstitute for Forensic and Traffic Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Christel WeissDepartment of Medical Statistics and Biomathematics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Marc SütterlinDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Saskia Spaich *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Sebastian Berlit *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

aimThe objective of this study was to assess the perception of the forensic medical examination (FME) by victims of sexual violence. Based on patient-related outcomes gained in terms of personnel, chronological and spatial parameters, an additional aim was to derive improved examination procedures. PATIENTS AND

methodsA total of 49 sexually assaulted women were enrolled in this study. After standardized FME by a forensic doctor followed by a gynecologist, women were asked to complete a questionnaire addressing general perception, preferences regarding attending staff's sex, sequence and time frame of the examinations performed. The attending gynecologist also completed a questionnaire addressing demographic and medical parameters of the patient as well as assault-related information.

resultsThe examination setting in general was evaluated positively. Nevertheless, 52% of examined victims perceived the FME as an additional psychological burden. Overall, 85% of the affected women preferred a female forensic physician and 76% a female gynecologist to perform the examination. When women said they experienced a violation of their privacy during the gynecological examination, a male was more often present (60% vs. 35%, p=0.0866). Regarding the sequence of the examination components, 65% of the victims preferred to start with their medical history followed by the forensic and then the gynecological examination.

conclusionForensic medical and gynecological examination after sexual assault is an essential procedure, yet it is a potentially further traumatizing experience for the victim. The identified patient preferences should be taken into account in order to diminish further trauma.

Indexed as

PhysiciansSex OffensesFemaleGynecologistsHumansMalePhysical Examinationexamination settingforensic medical examinationperceptionsexSexual assaultsexual violence

Identifiers

PMID36881047
PMCPMC10026665

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.