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Abuse, Sexual, Suspected — Complete History — Clinical Pathway: Emergency Department

Sexual Abuse Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department

History

Team Members
  • ED social worker leads the interview in the presence of:
    • ED HP, SART RN, ED Attending as able
  • Team members hold questions until SW finished
Communication Strategies
  • Children
    • Interview child/guardian individually as appropriate
    • Use open-ended questions
    • Identify child's preferred “body part” language
  • Adolescents
    • Discuss confidentiality
    • Review SSHADESS
    • Identify adolescent’s preferred “body part” language
HPI
  • What?
    • Date, time, location, use of threats, force, restraint
    • Memory loss, LOC, drugs/alcohol exposure
    • Contact:
      • Oral, digital, vaginal, rectal, ejaculation, condom use
      • Bleeding, pain, concern for foreign body, any other trauma
    • After the event:
      • Bathed, changed clothing, ate, mouthwash, barrier contraceptive device
  • Who?
    • Perpetrator identification, age, relationship
    • Current location
  • When
    • Initial contact, last contact or last possible contact
  • Where
    • Location
    • Evaluation, reports for this episode
Symptoms
  • Genito-anal complaints
    • Vaginal irritation, bleeding, discharge
    • Dysuria, urinary frequency, enuresis
    • Rectal pain, bleeding
    • Last void, stool
  • Behavioral problems
    • Recent “acting out,” hyperactivity, withdrawn
    • Sexually explicit behavior inappropriate for age
    • Nightmares or recent change in sleeping habits
PMH
  • Menarche, LMP
  • Sexual history
    • STI, pregnancy, birth control
  • Recent antibiotics
  • HPV, hepatitis B vaccination
  • Medications
  • Past medical hospitalizations, surgeries
  • Health issues
  • Previous police or social services reports

 

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