Clinical Audit of Sexual Abuse Referral Forms to the Sexual Assault Follow-up and Evaluation Clinic, Nassau, The Bahamas, among Females Aged 13 to 19 Years / Auditoría clínica de los formularios de remisión de abuso sexual a la Clínica de Evaluación y Seguimiento de Agresiones Sexuales, Nassau, Bahamas, entre mujeres de 13 a 19 años

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the adequacy of the documentation of referral forms for sexually abused females aged 13-19 years directed to the Sexual Assault Follow-up and Evaluation (SAFE) Clinic at the Agape Family Medicine Clinic, Nassau, The Bahamas, for interim management. Methods: An approved review was performed on 123 referral forms regarding sexually abused females aged 13-19 years who attended the SAFE Clinic from 2011 to 2015. The exercise focussed on documentation adequacy based on a scoring system developed by the researchers (> 50% was assessed to be adequate; records of the referee's disposition of the patient, the date of the incident and evidence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening were considered vital for adequacy). Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Results: The median age of the participants was 14 years (interquartile range: 13-15). Of the 63.4% (78) with documented nationality, 88.5% (69) were Bahamian and 11.5% (9) Haitian. Documentation status did not differ statistically significantly by nationality. Regarding documentation, 74% (91) recorded the name of the patient's school, 59.3% (73) recorded that the patient knew the assailant and 17.9% (22) indicated that the patient did not know the assailant, while 22.8% (28) did not document this latter information. Type of sexual penetration was indicated by 65.9% (81). Of the vital variables, 18.7% (23) recorded the referee's disposition of the patient, 29.8% (36) the date of the incident and 60.2% (74) evidence of STI screening; 7.3% (9) documented all three and 22.8% (28) two. The mean percentage of documentation for vital variables was 49.3% (± 3.6) for the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department, Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, versus 30.5% (± 4.0) for public health clinics (PHCs) (p = 0.001). Overall, 69.9% (86 of 123) of the referral forms were deemed inadequate: 64.7% (33 of 51) from the A&E Department versus 73.4% (47 of 64) from PHCs among the 115 patients who provided referral information. Conclusion: Documentation deficiencies of the sexual abuse referral forms demand reform. Complete and consistent documentation is required.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la idoneidad de la documentación de los formularios de remisión para mujeres de 13 a 19 años sexualmente abusadas, dirigidas a la Clínica de Evaluación y Seguimiento de Agresiones Sexuales (ESAS) en la Clínica Ágape de Medicina Familiar, Nassau, Bahamas, para la administración interina. Métodos: Se aprobó una revisión para examinar 123 formularios de remisión con respecto a las mujeres de 13 a 19 años sexualmente abusadas, que asistieron a la clínica de ESAS de 2011 a 2015. El ejercicio se centró en la idoneidad de la documentación basada en un sistema de puntuación desarrollado por los investigadores (50% fue adecuado según la valoración; los registros de la disposición de la paciente en el arbitraje, la fecha del incidente y la evidencia del tamizaje de la infección de transmisión sexual (ITS), fueron todos vitales a la hora de determinar la idoneidad). Se calcularon las estadísticas descriptivas e inferenciales. Resultados: La edad promedio de las participantes fue 14 años (rango intercuartil: 13-15). De 63.4% (78) con nacionalidad documentada, el 88.5% (69) fueron bahameñas y el 11.5% (9) haitianas. El estado de la documentación en término de las estadísticas no difirió significativamente por nacionalidad. Con respecto a la documentación, el 74% (91) registró el nombre de la escuela de la paciente, 59.3% (73) registró que la paciente conocía al agresor, y el 17.9% (22) indicó que la paciente no conocía al agresor, mientras que el 22.8% (28) no documentó esta última información. El tipo de penetración sexual fue indicado por 65.9% (81). De las variables vitales, 18.7% (23) registró la disposición de la paciente en el arbitraje, 29.8% (36) la fecha del incidente, y el 60.2% (74) evidencia del tamizaje de las ITS; 7.3% (9) documentó tres de ellas y 2.8% (28) dos. El porcentaje medio de documentación de las variables vitales fue 49.3% (± 3.6) para el Departamento de Accidentes y Emergencias (A&E), Hospital Princess Margaret, Nassau, frente al 30.5% (± 4.0) de las clínicas de salud pública (CSP) (p = 0.001). En general, el 69.9% (86 de 123) de los formularios de referencia se consideró inadecuado: 64.7% (33 de 51) del Departamento de A&E frente al 73.4% (47 de 64) de las CSP entre las 115 pacientes que proporcionaron la información de la remisión. Conclusión: Las deficiencias de la documentación de los formularios de remisión de abuso sexual exigen reformas. Se requiere una documentación completa y consistente.

Clinical audit of referrals for sexual abuse among females ages 13–19 years attending the Agape Family Medicine Clinic, Nassau, Bahamas, 2011–2015

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adequacy of the documentation of referrals for sexually abused females ages 13–19 years directed to the Agape Family Medicine Clinic for interim management. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An approved review was performed on 123 referral forms regarding sexually abused females 13–19 years old who attended Agape’s Sexual Assault Follow-up and Evaluation (SAFE) clinic, Nassau, Bahamas. The exercise focussed on documentation adequacy based on a scoring system developed by the researchers: > 50% was assessed to be adequate, and recording disposition, date of incident and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening was considered vital for adequacy. A current version of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS, v 21) generated descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Participants’ median age was 14 (IQR: 13, 15) years old. Of 63.4% (n = 78) with documented nationality, 88.5% (n = 69) were Bahamian and 11.5% (n = 9) Haitian. Documentation status did not differ statistically significantly by nationality. Regarding documentation, 74% (n =91) recorded school, 59.3% (n = 73) recorded knowing the assailant and 17.9% (n = 22) indicated not knowing. Approximately two-thirds (65.9%; n = 81) indicated penetration type; 18.7% recorded disposition, 29.8% (n =36) incident date and 60.2% STI screening; 7.3% (n = 9) documented all three and 22.8% (n = 28) two. Among public health clinics (PHCs), 45.3% (n = 29) did not indicate any of the three vital variables versus 7.8% (n = 4) for Accident and Emergency (A&E) referrals. Mean percent documentation for vital variables was 49.3 (± 3.6)%for A&E versus 30.5 (± 4.0)% for PHCs (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The deficient documentation status of referral forms demands the need for reform. Complete, consistent documentation is required.