Feelings expressed by professionals caring for children and teenagers victims of sexual violence.
Marimeire Morais da Conceição, Climene Laura de Camargo, Maria Carolina Ortiz Whitaker and 3 others
PMID 39166624WHAT IT FOUND
Professionals caring for sexually abused children reported empathy, fear of retaliation, indignation, suffering and lasting consternation.
These feelings interfered with reporting and care delivery, highlighting the need for emotional support and training.
Key findings
01Five main feelings emerged: empathy, fear, indignation, suffering, and consternation.
02Fear was primarily related to collecting information and communicating diagnosis due to potential retaliation from families.
03Professionals experienced lasting consternation, with victim stories remaining in their memories long after care.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Single center study in Brazil. All participants were female. Limited to hospital settings, excluding primary care or other contexts. Qualitative nature means results are not generalizable to all populations.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these feelings as evidence of poor professional competence or as a universal reaction. The study describes the emotional experience of a specific group of female hospital staff in Brazil. It does not measure patient outcomes or prove that these feelings always hinder care.