Adult experiences of sexual assault disclosures in nursing practice: A phenomenological study

Background: Sexual assault is a form of sexual violence and abuse. It is a deeply violating experience for the survivor resulting in both immediate and long-term health implications. Sexual assault is a serious public health concerns of epidemic proportions internationally, yet the number of people seeking support from healthcare remains low. Nurses’ roles are continually evolving, leading to increased responsibility, indicating nurses are significantly more likely to receive disclosures and/or support those that have experienced sexual assault however, little is known whether response and care received aids recovery for the survivor.

Aims: This research addresses this gap in knowledge and gives an insight to the experiences of sexual assault disclosure to nurses, through the perspectives of both survivors and nurses.

Methods: A phenomenological approach was used to carry out this research exploring the lived experience. Descriptive phenomenological methods were sought to capture the experience for both sets of participants. Seventeen participants taking part in this study (9 survivors/8 nurses) using non-dyadic interviews. Data was analysed using the descriptive phenomenological psychological method.

Results: Three phenomenological concepts are identified: authenticity, empathy and embodiment. Survivors struggled to face their authentic self, resulting in a lack of acceptance of the assault. Whilst all participants experienced empathy they were often not aligned, eg. survivors were searching for empathy at the same time the nurse turned away from their empathetic response (to compartmentalise). Facing the authentic self and the empathetic engagement result in an experience that embodied both sets of participants.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated nurses must be trauma informed in their care and practice, only then will they be able to fully support survivors of sexual assault. Both sets of participants’ experiences are entrenched with underlying rape myth and victim blaming assumptions resulting in bias that impacts communication and empathy in consultations