Clinical sciences
- Acute management following recent sexual assault
- Emergency contraception and options
- Follow-up care after sexual assault, including sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing
- Implications of STI transmission for legal processes
- Management of common physical injuries co-occurring with sexual assault, including non-fatal strangulation
- Mandatory reporting requirements for adults and children
- Principles of biological sampling for:
- DNA detection
- injury documentation
- toxicology
- Principles of trauma-informed care
- Principles of use of post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV, hepatitis B, and other STIs after sexual assault
- Role of sexual health physicians in the collection of forensic evidence and referral pathways according to jurisdiction or country of practice
- Therapeutic management of historic sexual assault
- Usage of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) for HIV in sexual assault setting
Epidemiology
- Impacts on First Nations peoples
- Population groups with higher prevalence of sexual assault
- Prevalence of sexual assault and child sexual abuse
- Relationship between sexual assault and other forms of abuse, neglect, and violence, including intimate partner violence and non-fatal strangulation
Forensic medicine
- Legal requirements for consenting to forensic assessments, and how this differs to duty of care
- Legislative requirements as a professional or expert witness in the context of sexual assault
- Local legislation, including key sexual offences
- Role of police and courts in prosecuting sexual offences
Pathophysiology
- General physical and anogenital injuries occurring secondary to sexual assault
- Physical and psychological consequences of adult and child sexual abuse
- STI transmission in the context of sexual assault
Acute medical and forensic care following sexual assault
- Assess and manage physical injuries, and provide referral in the case of severe injury
- Assess immediate physical and emotional safety, and organise support for patients in these instances
- Be aware of the range of immediate responses to sexual assault, and:
- manage acute distress
- provide appropriate emotional support
- provide immediate safety planning
- Discuss the legal, medical, and psychological care options following sexual assault
- Document medical history, examination, and follow-up medical care
- Provide medical care, including emergency contraception, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV, hepatitis B, and STIs, and tetanus vaccination, where required
Follow-up care and care following delayed disclosure
- Assessment of and management options for pregnancy conceived from sexual assault
- Provide psychological care, including referral to counselling services
- Referral for follow-up of other injuries, including non-fatal strangulation and head injuries
- STI and HIV follow-up testing
Legal procedures
- Provide evidence in court in accordance with expert witness guidelines
Multidisciplinary care
- Operate within a multidisciplinary health team, which may include:
- forensic clinicians
- nurses
- specialist sexual assault counsellors
- Work cooperatively with other services, including:
- child protection services
- family and domestic violence units
- police
Vicarious trauma
- Acknowledge impact of exposure to trauma
- Debrief and seek advice and support when required
- Identify appropriate support person for own requirements
