Emergency Department Visits for Sexual Assault by Emerging Adults: Is Alcohol a Factor?

Emergency Department Visits for Sexual Assault by Emerging Adults: Is Alcohol a Factor?

Introduction: Emerging adults (18–25 years of age) are at increased risk for sexual assault. There is little Emergency Department (ED) data on sexual assaults that involve alcohol among this population. The purpose of this study was to analyze ED visits for sexual assault and determine if alcohol co...

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Main Authors: Melinda J. Sharon, Shelley M. Hoffman, Danielle M. Davidov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eScholarship Publishing, University of California 2018-07-01
Series:Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
Online Access:https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2sq627rw
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spelling doaj-art-9b70b28285974f0f87279710b8ba69932018-09-04T23:19:27ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-90182018-07-0119510.5811/westjem.2018.6.38219wjem-19-797Emergency Department Visits for Sexual Assault by Emerging Adults: Is Alcohol a Factor?Melinda J. Sharon0Shelley M. Hoffman1Danielle M. Davidov2West Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Morgantown, West VirginiaWest Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Morgantown, West VirginiaWest Virginia University School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Morgantown, West VirginiaIntroduction: Emerging adults (18–25 years of age) are at increased risk for sexual assault. There is little Emergency Department (ED) data on sexual assaults that involve alcohol among this population. The purpose of this study was to analyze ED visits for sexual assault and determine if alcohol consumption by the patient was noted. Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of patients aged 18–25 presenting to an ED in a college town over a four-year period. Extracted variables included age, gender, delay in seeking care, sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) evaluation, and alcohol consumption by the patient. For analysis of alcohol use, cases were categorized as ages < 21 and ≥ 21. Results: There were 118 patients who presented to the ED from 2012 to 2015. The mean age of the cohort was 20 years, and almost 70% of visits were among those < 21. Of those aged < 21, 74% reported alcohol consumption, in contrast to 48% of those ≥ 21 (p = 0.055). Of those reporting alcohol use, 36% were evaluated on the day of the assault compared to 61% of those not reporting alcohol (p=0.035). Conclusion: This study found that ED visits for sexual assault in emerging adults were more common in younger patients. Alcohol use occurred more frequently with patients under the legal drinking age, and presentation was also more likely to be delayed. The relationship between sexual assault and alcohol use should underscore primary prevention efforts in emerging adult populations.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2sq627rw
institution Open Data Bank
collection Open Access Journals
building Directory of Open Access Journals
language English
format Article
author Melinda J. Sharon
Shelley M. Hoffman
Danielle M. Davidov
spellingShingle Melinda J. Sharon
Shelley M. Hoffman
Danielle M. Davidov
Emergency Department Visits for Sexual Assault by Emerging Adults: Is Alcohol a Factor?
Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
author_facet Melinda J. Sharon
Shelley M. Hoffman
Danielle M. Davidov
author_sort Melinda J. Sharon
title Emergency Department Visits for Sexual Assault by Emerging Adults: Is Alcohol a Factor?
title_short Emergency Department Visits for Sexual Assault by Emerging Adults: Is Alcohol a Factor?
title_full Emergency Department Visits for Sexual Assault by Emerging Adults: Is Alcohol a Factor?
title_fullStr Emergency Department Visits for Sexual Assault by Emerging Adults: Is Alcohol a Factor?
title_full_unstemmed Emergency Department Visits for Sexual Assault by Emerging Adults: Is Alcohol a Factor?
title_sort emergency department visits for sexual assault by emerging adults: is alcohol a factor?
publisher eScholarship Publishing, University of California
series Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
issn 1936-9018
publishDate 2018-07-01
description Introduction: Emerging adults (18–25 years of age) are at increased risk for sexual assault. There is little Emergency Department (ED) data on sexual assaults that involve alcohol among this population. The purpose of this study was to analyze ED visits for sexual assault and determine if alcohol consumption by the patient was noted. Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of patients aged 18–25 presenting to an ED in a college town over a four-year period. Extracted variables included age, gender, delay in seeking care, sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) evaluation, and alcohol consumption by the patient. For analysis of alcohol use, cases were categorized as ages < 21 and ≥ 21. Results: There were 118 patients who presented to the ED from 2012 to 2015. The mean age of the cohort was 20 years, and almost 70% of visits were among those < 21. Of those aged < 21, 74% reported alcohol consumption, in contrast to 48% of those ≥ 21 (p = 0.055). Of those reporting alcohol use, 36% were evaluated on the day of the assault compared to 61% of those not reporting alcohol (p=0.035). Conclusion: This study found that ED visits for sexual assault in emerging adults were more common in younger patients. Alcohol use occurred more frequently with patients under the legal drinking age, and presentation was also more likely to be delayed. The relationship between sexual assault and alcohol use should underscore primary prevention efforts in emerging adult populations.
url https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2sq627rw
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