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Cited by 4Telemedicine and Telehealth ImplementationSexual Assault and Victimization StudiesIntimate Partner and Family Violence

Delivery of Distance Counselling to Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Scoping Review of Promising and Best Practices

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Leroux, Janette, Johnston, Natalie, Brown, Ashley-Anne, Mihic, Alanna, DuBois, Denise, Trudell, AnnaLise·2022·INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
DOI 10.1177/00469580221097427PMC PMC9082742
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Abstract

Distance counselling holds immense potential for improving access to trauma supports for survivors of sexual violence (SV), and particularly for under-served groups who disproportionately experience violence and myriad barriers to accessing in-person supports. And yet, the evidence-base for the practice and delivery of distance counselling remains under-developed. In the context of COVID-19, where telehealth applications have undergone a rapid uptake, we undertook a scoping review of existing evidence of therapeutic and organizational practices related to the real-time (synchronous) delivery of distance counselling to survivors of SV. We based our scoping review methods on Arksey and O’Malley framework and in accordance with the guidance on scoping reviews from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and PRISMA reporting guidelines for scoping reviews. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Sociological Abstracts was undertaken in October 2020, and again in March 2022. Searching, reviewing, appraisal, and data extraction was undertaken by two reviewers. In total, 1094 records were identified that resulted in 20 studies included. Descriptions, findings, and recommendations were gleaned and synthesized into potential practices using inductive thematic analysis. While many studies have an appreciative orientation to distance counselling, these benefits tend to be framed as non-universal, and conditional on survivor safety, flexibility, anonymity, survivor choice, strong and inclusive technology, and a supported workforce. Despite the limited evidence-base, we present several clusters of findings that, taken together, can be used to support current COVID-19 distance counselling initiatives with survivors, as well as guide the future development of best practices.

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Cited by

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Authors
Leroux, J., Johnston, N., Brown, A.-A., Mihic, A., DuBois, D., & Trudell, A.
Affiliations
  • Queen's University (CA)
  • Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • University of Toronto (CA)
  • Anova, Gender-Based Violence Shelter and Sexual Assault Centre London, Ontario, Canada
Corresponding author
Leroux, Janette
ORCID
Venue
INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2022-01
Volume
59
Pages
469580221097427-469580221097427
ISSN
  • 0046-9580 (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7243
DOI
10.1177/00469580221097427
PMC
PMC9082742
OpenAlex
W4229078417
Cited by
4
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • INQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
  • Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
Keywords
sexual violence survivors, telemedicine, COVID-19 pandemic, trauma support, survivor safety, anonymity, technology accessibility, mental health professionals, best practices
MeSH terms
Distance Counseling, COVID-19, Humans, Sex Offenses, Telemedicine, Survivors

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