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Research article
Carol O'Dwyer
The University of Melbourne Department of General Practice
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1819-5689
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background Survivors of sexual violence commonly access mental health services. Psychiatric inpatient units in Australia are predominately mixed gender and may further retraumatise these women. Sexual violence is under-recognised by mental health professionals and there is a lack of adequate policy or direction for mental health service services. To date, only a small amount of research has focused on health professionals’ experiences of providing trauma-informed care to women in psychiatric settings, with most studies focused on specific practices or interventions. Qualitative data is particularly lacking on this topic. This is a critical gap in the knowledge given that health professionals are key to detecting and addressing victimisation. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of healthcare professionals’ experiences and perceptions in providing care to women who are survivors of sexual violence in psychiatric inpatient units.
Methods This qualitative study utilised semi-structured interviews with 40 health professionals recruited from four psychiatric inpatient units within a large Australian public mental health organisation. Data were examined using thematic analysis.
Results Three main themes were developed to describe participants’ experiences of the care provided to women; 1) Dismissing and denying; 2) Acknowledging but unprepared; 3) Empathising but despairing.
Discussion Gender, professional training, adherence to the biomedical model, and level of experience influenced health professionals’ experiences.
Conclusions Health professionals in this study held varying attitudes towards female consumers and responses to sexual violence. Our findings suggest the need to address individual staff perception and promote trauma-informed and gender-sensitive care across all disciplines, genders, and levels of experience.
Keywords
Australia; sexual violence; mental health; women; health professionals; psychiatric inpatient unit; qualitative
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Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Health Services Research.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 26 Oct, 2019
Editor assigned
On 14 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 13 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 13 Oct, 2019
Version 1
Posted 27 Aug, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 19 Sep, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 19 Sep, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 17 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 12 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 29 Aug, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 26 Aug, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 21 Aug, 2019
Editor assigned
On 21 Aug, 2019
Editor invited
On 20 Aug, 2019
First submitted
On 10 Aug, 2019
Metrics
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at BMC Health Services Research.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Carol O'Dwyer
The University of Melbourne Department of General Practice
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1819-5689
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Health Services Research.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 26 Oct, 2019
Editor assigned
On 14 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 13 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 13 Oct, 2019
Version 1
Posted 27 Aug, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 19 Sep, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 19 Sep, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 17 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 12 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 29 Aug, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 26 Aug, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 21 Aug, 2019
Editor assigned
On 21 Aug, 2019
Editor invited
On 20 Aug, 2019
First submitted
On 10 Aug, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Health Services Research.
Background Survivors of sexual violence commonly access mental health services. Psychiatric inpatient units in Australia are predominately mixed gender and may further retraumatise these women. Sexual violence is under-recognised by mental health professionals and there is a lack of adequate policy or direction for mental health service services. To date, only a small amount of research has focused on health professionals’ experiences of providing trauma-informed care to women in psychiatric settings, with most studies focused on specific practices or interventions. Qualitative data is particularly lacking on this topic. This is a critical gap in the knowledge given that health professionals are key to detecting and addressing victimisation. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of healthcare professionals’ experiences and perceptions in providing care to women who are survivors of sexual violence in psychiatric inpatient units.
Methods This qualitative study utilised semi-structured interviews with 40 health professionals recruited from four psychiatric inpatient units within a large Australian public mental health organisation. Data were examined using thematic analysis.
Results Three main themes were developed to describe participants’ experiences of the care provided to women; 1) Dismissing and denying; 2) Acknowledging but unprepared; 3) Empathising but despairing.
Discussion Gender, professional training, adherence to the biomedical model, and level of experience influenced health professionals’ experiences.
Conclusions Health professionals in this study held varying attitudes towards female consumers and responses to sexual violence. Our findings suggest the need to address individual staff perception and promote trauma-informed and gender-sensitive care across all disciplines, genders, and levels of experience.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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