1. Esme Michael-Anna e.michaelanna@gmail.com 027 330 6077
The Osteopathic Management of Patients who have Experienced Sexual Violation
Esme Michael-Anna

2. Contents Where I am at Objective of the Study Three Stories
Definitions
Relevance/Gap
Methods
Interview Questions
Conclusion
Feedback and Questions

3. Where I am at… Proposal being summitted 8 June 2017
Ethics Form A 5 July 2017

4. Research Objective
This research project aims to investigate the current knowledge, skills, attitudes and confidence held by New Zealand osteopaths regarding the management of patients who have experienced sexual violation, with a view to ascertain whether osteopaths, as primary healthcare practitioners, are adequately equipped to manage such patients.

5. Three Stories… Patient 1 – Male patient triggered by touch
Patient 2 – The dangers of transference
Patient 3 – The different touch and permission experienced felt by a survivor of sexual abuse

6. What do I Mean by Sexual Violation
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Sexual Violation

7. Relevance? NZ Statistics:
Approximately 1 in 5 New Zealand women have experienced a serious sexual assault
1 in 7 boys experience sexual abuse by adulthood
Sadly it prevalent 
(Help Foundation, 2017b; The New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse 2016a)

8. Relevance?
Psychological distress – depression, anxiety, PTSD are common
Not all patients experience psychological trauma
However, there are indications that patient who have experienced sexual violation experience touch therapy differently and this can negatively effect their reaction to treatment (Schachter, Stalker and Teram, 1999)

9. Relevance?
WHO recommends that all professionals working in any spectrum of healthcare be trained to detect and handle cases of sexual violence with ‘sensitivity and efficiency’
(WHO World Report on Violence and Health, Krug et al., 2002)
NZ osteopaths have little training in this area
Apparent disparity of opinion on this subject within the profession of osteopathy
Initial search showed little research in this area

10. Methods
Qualitative methodology with underpinning philosophy of phenomenology
Semi- structured interviews - up to 10
Looking for an ‘information rich’ range of lived experience
Recruiting osteopaths who have been registered and practising in the field 3 plus years

11. Interview Questions - Feedback
What is your understanding of sexual violation, particularly in New Zealand?
What training have you had regarding the management of patients who have experienced sexual violation?
What skills do you have for managing patients who have experienced sexual violation?
How do you view your patients who have experienced sexual violation?
Have you ever had to manage the situation of disclosure of sexual violence before?
If the answer is yes: Please tell me about it?
If not implicit in the participant’s answer, ask: Do you feel you managed it well? Badly?

12. Interview Questions - Feedback
Please tell me about any other direct experiences you have had regarding managing patients who have experienced sexual violation?
How confident do you feel in your ability to manage patents who have experienced sexual violation?
Where would you refer a patient who was in distress or struggling with their experience of sexual violation?
What professional support is available for you regarding managing patients who have experienced sexual violation?
Do you think it is important to know how to manage patients who have experienced sexual violation? Why? or Please expand on your thinking about this.
Is there anything else you would like to share with me about this topic?

13. Conclusion
A preliminary look at how osteopaths in NZ manage patients with a history of sexual violation.

14. Feedback and Questions
Comments on my research process
Any areas I should be aware of for handling in my proposal and ethics
Do you have any contacts who might be interested in being interviewed for this project – networks (Looking for an ‘information rich’ range of lived experience)
Any ideas about my questions
Any resources I might not have thought of yet

15. References
Help Foundation (2017a). Sexual Abuse Myths Busted. Retrieved from
Help Foundation (2017b). Sexual Abuse Statistics. Retrieved from
Krug, E. G., Dahlberg, L. L. Mercy, J. A., Zwi, A. B. & Lozano, R. (Eds.) (2002). World Report on Violence and Health. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. Retrieved from /violence/world_report/en/
Stalker, C. A., Schachter, C. L. & Teram, E. (1999). Facilitating Effective Relationships Between Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Health Care Professionals. Affilia, 14(2), doi: /
Taylor, B. & Francis, K. (2013). Qualitative Research in the Health Sciences: Methodologies, Methods and Processes. Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.
The New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse (2016a). Data Summary: Adult Sexual Abuse. Auckland University, New Zealand. Retrieved from nzfvc.org.nz/
The New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse (2016b). Data Summary: Child Sexual Abuse. Auckland University, New Zealand. Retrieved from nzfvc.org.nz/