Improving the Forensic Documentation of Injuries through Alternate Light: A Researcher- Practitioner Partnership, Maryland, 2021-2023 (ICPSR 39024)
This study assessed and evaluated the programmatic implementation of alternate light source (ALS) use during the examination of injuries among adult victims of sexual violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) in a hospital setting. Researchers selected two forensic nursing departments, one with no experience using ALS in clinical practice (Site A) and one with 10+ years' experience (Site B), and conducted a thorough contextual analysis of each site to 1. develop an evidence-based ALS implementation program for forensic nursing departments and 2. evaluate the feasibility of this ALS implementation program.
Contextual analysis involved the collection of qualitative data through structured focus groups with nurses and quantitative data using 6-months of de-identified forensic medical records from patients who received a medical forensic exam for reported (or suspected) sexual assault or IPV. Nurses were recruited to the study upon completing an anonymous survey about their prior knowledge of ALS, qualifications or certifications related to ALS, workplace team dynamics, and organizational support for changes in practice using the Organizational Readiness to Change Assessment [ORCA]. This Nurse Survey Data and aforementioned Medical Record Data are currently available for secondary users, and qualitative interview transcripts will be made available in a future update.