Testing of a Mobile Web App to Decrease Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Women After Sexual Assault

Pilot Testing of a Mobile Web App to Mitigate Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) After Sexual Assault

Interventions are available to all adult women sexual assault survivors to reduce the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection, yet no interventions are provided to reduce posttraumatic stress. This pilot study tests the ability of a smartphone-based web app to prevent and reduce posttraumatic stress in women sexual assault survivors.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Present for emergency care within 72 hours of sexual assault
• Receive a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) exam
• Alert and oriented

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to consent due to intoxication, serious injury preventing ability to hear, speak, or see to consent, or other causes
• Prisoners
• Pregnant women
• Women living with assailant who plan to continue living with assailant
• Women with fractures from the assault
• Admitted patients
• Women who do not have a smartphone with continuous service for the past 12 months
• Inability to read and speak English
• No mailing address
• SANE exam took place >72 hours ago
• Patient previously enrolled in the study