Efficacy of a 2-year-old sexual assault nurse examiner program in a Canadian hospital.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to describe a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program at a hospital-based sexual assault care center in Ontario, Canada, and assess its efficacy in comparison with physician examiners. METHODS: Data obtained from the hospital records of 515 women who came to a Toronto sexual assault care center were examined. A number of variables relevant to this assessment of services were examined, including client demographics and presenting history, aspects of the sexual assault, and characteristics of the treatment. RESULTS: Average assessment times were shorter for victims seen by SANEs than for victims seen by physicians (approximately 3(1/4) hours versus 4 hours). Physicians had more interruptions (25.1%) than did SANEs (20.0%). Client characteristics and presentation were similar regardless of who provided care, with some exceptions. DISCUSSION: The results of the study support the utility of the SANE model as an efficient program for the assessment and treatment of victims of sexual assault.