@article{32b11a8b377b408ea79542fd8b814f42,
title = "Protocol for the first large-scale emergency care-based longitudinal cohort study of recovery after sexual assault: The Women's Health Study",
abstract = "Introduction Worldwide, an estimated 10%-27% of women are sexually assaulted during their lifetime. Despite the enormity of sexual assault as a public health problem, to our knowledge, no large-scale prospective studies of experiences and recovery over time among women presenting for emergency care after sexual assault have been performed. Methods and analysis Women ≥18 years of age who present for emergency care within 72 hours of sexual assault to a network of treatment centres across the USA are approached for study participation. Blood DNA and RNA samples and brief questionnaire and medical record data are obtained from women providing initial consent. Full consent is obtained at initial 1 week follow-up to analyse blood sample data and to perform assessments at 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year. These assessments include evaluation of survivor life history, current health and recovery and experiences with treatment providers, law enforcement and the legal system. Ethics and dissemination This study is approved by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the IRB of each participating study site. We hope to present the results of this study to the scientific community at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.",
keywords = "pain, posttraumatic stress, sexual assault",
author = "Short, {Nicole A.} and Jenyth Sullivan and April Soward and Bollen, {Kenneth A.} and Israel Liberzon and Sandra Martin and Rauch, {Sheila A.M.} and Kathy Bell and Catherine Rossi and Megan Lechner and Carissa Novak and Kristen Witkemper and Kessler, {Ronald C.} and McLean, {Samuel A.}",
note = "Funding Information: The WHS is a unique large-scale emergency care-based longitudinal cohort study of recovery in the 12 months after sexual assault. The study seeks to increase understanding of the incidence, pathogenesis and trajectories of adverse neuropsychiatric sequelae, to develop clinical decision support tools that effectively predict such outcomes, and to obtain feedback from survivors regarding the services they receive. Study success is based on our study participants, who share their experiences with the understanding that researchers will use this information to try to improve the care of survivors in the future. We are grateful for their efforts and recognise our responsibility. Contributors SM conceived of the study. NS, JS, AS, KB, IL, SLM, SAMR, KB, CR, ML, RCK, CN, KW and SM helped to design the final study protocol. All authors reviewed the manuscript. Funding R01AR064700 funded by the following National Institutes of Health Institutes: NIAMS, NINDS, OD (ORWH), NINR, NIMH, and NICHD. This work was supported by NIH R01 AR064700. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. Competing interests In the past 3 years, RCK received support for his epidemiological studies from Sanofi Aventis; was a consultant for Johnson & Johnson Wellness and Prevention, Sage Pharmaceuticals, Shire, Takeda; and served on an advisory board for the Johnson & Johnson Services Inc. Lake Nona Life Project. RCK is a co-owner of DataStat, Inc., a market research firm that carries out healthcare research. Patient consent for publication Not required. Ethics approval All procedures were approved by the UNC IRB (13–3193). Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.",
year = "2019",
month = nov,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031087",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "9",
journal = "BMJ open",
issn = "2044-6055",
publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",
number = "11",
}