Routine questioning about non-consenting sex: a survey of practice in Australasian sexual health clinics

Abstract

The objectives of the study were, 1. To ascertain if sexual health physicians and practitioners believe a question concerning a past history of non-consensual sex should be asked routinely and are asking it. 2. To identify whether sexual health services have established protocols to integrate this question into practice. 3. To identify the barriers to this becoming part of a routine sexual health history. A questionnaire covering demographics, protocols and practice around asking the question and reasons for not asking was sent to all (20) sexual health clinics in New Zealand and 7 sexual health clinics in Australia, inviting participation from all staff who took routine sexual health histories. Twenty-seven sexual health clinics participated with a total of 122 (69% response rate) questionnaires completed and returned. One hundred and thirteen (93%) participants believed it was a relevant question to ask. Seventy-eight (63%) said asking the question was encouraged, and routinely or mostly asked the question. Only 40 (33%) identified their workplace had a written policy and 52 (43%) had not received specific training in asking the question. The majority who asked routinely said their client never or rarely objected and that it did not often add significantly to the time. The main reasons for not asking were the belief it was nothing to do with the person's presenting complaint, concern the client would find it too disturbing, inadequate training, and lack of time. Sexual health clinics should develop protocols and guidelines and provide appropriate training to ensure that routine questioning about non-consenting sex is integrated into safe practice.

A very low response rate in an on‐line survey of medical practitioners

“…We hypothesised that the ease and convenience of an online questionnaire -and the incentive of a chance to win a weekend in an upmarket hotel -would drive the response rate higher still, perhaps beyond the 70% achieved in surveys of physicians conducted by our colleagues 4,5 and others. 6 In the event, at the end of the first month, the overall response rate was 4.0%; even after the reminder letter and a second month, it only reached 8. Why did a well-planned and conducted survey produce such a low response rate?…”

An investigation of the phenomenon of non‐consensual sex among Maori men who have sex with men

“…Although there is very little literature on this matter as it relates to New Zealand men who have sex with men in general (Feehan et al 2001, Hurst et al 2003, there is no research into the issue as it relates to Maori men. As well as summarising the small number of published works existing in New Zealand literature, this paper offers new and insightful observations from interviews with eight Maori men who, at the time of interviewing, ranged in age from their early twenties to over fifty.…”

Assessment of Sexual Assault in Clinical Practice: Available Screening Tools for Use with Different Adult Populations

“…Although research indicates that sexual assault is prevalent across a wide range of populations and can have long-term harmful effects, it is not widely assessed in routine clinical practice (e.g., Hurst et al, 2003;Pruitt & Kappius, 1992). Although this review identified a number of screening and assessment instruments that are designed to assess for sexual trauma, these measures are rarely employed in clinical settings.…”

“…Estimated incidence and prevalence rates of sexual assault are likely underestimates of the actual number of occurrences, due in part to the low reporting rates of victims of sexual assaults (e.g., Casey & Nurius, 2006). Although clinicians generally agree that the assessment and awareness of a client's trauma history (e.g., child abuse, intimate partner violence, and sexual victimization) is important for diagnosis and treatment, questions concerning these experiences are often not asked (e.g., Hurst, MacDonald, Say, & Read, 2003;Pruitt & Kappius, 1992;Samuelson & Campbell, 2005). Knowledge of a client's trauma history can aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment in a number of ways, including determining the etiology of the presenting problem and the impact of the trauma experienced (e.g., Jacobson & Richardson, 1987).…”