Factors Associated With Forensic Nurses Offering HIV nPEP Status Post Sexual Assault

This study examines factors associated with FNEs offering nPEP to patients following sexual assault at two FNE programs in urban settings. Offering nPEP is mostly driven by site-specific protocol. At Site 1, in addition to open anal or open genital wounds, the presence of injury to the head or face was associated with FNEs offering nPEP (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 64.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [2.12, 1942.37]). At Site 2, patients assaulted by someone of Other race/ethnicity (non-White, non-African American) were 86% less likely to be offered nPEP (AOR 0.14, 95% CI = [.03, .72]) than patients assaulted by Whites. In addition to following site-specific protocols, future research should further explore the mechanisms influencing clinician decision making.

Source: Western Journal of Nursing Research - July 24, 2015 Category: Nursing Authors: Draughon, J. E., Hauda, W. E., Price, B., Rotolo, S., Austin, K. W., Sheridan, D. J. Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research