Systems Change Analysis of SANE Programs: Identifying the Mediating Mechanisms of Criminal Justice System Impact: Project Summary

摘要

This study used a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent comparison group cohort design (Shadish, Cook, & Campbell, 2002) to compare criminal justice system outcomes for adult sexual assault cases treated in county hospitals five years prior to the implementation of the SANE program (January 1994 to August 1999) to cases treated in the focal SANE program during its first seven years of operation (the intervention group). A quasi-experimental design was necessary because it was not feasible to randomly assign victims to receive exams at either the SANE program or a hospital. A quasi-experimental design was also used due to the ethical concerns about randomly assigning sexual assault victims to a non-SANE condition for medical care. Previous research has found that SANE programs are significantly more consistent than non-SANE hospital emergency departments in providing key services such as STI prophylaxis and emergency contraception (Campbell et al., 2006; Logan, Cole, & Capillo, 2007).