Question: Is forensic photography accurate? The gist: We’ll take photos of bruises in dialysis patients and send them out to forensic physicians to see if their written description based on the photos matches the written description of a physician who saw the actual injury. What you need to do: Have input into design prior to ethics approval; Work with another researcher to recruit patients, take photos, send photos out for interpretation, collate and interpret results, draft journal submission
Question: Why do some patients release “rape kits” to police immediately and some people delay release? The gist: NSW offers “just in case” forensic examinations after recent sexual assault. The forensic swabs are stored while the patient decides whether or not to go to police. Most patients do eventually release the kit but some don’t. What are the reasons for the latter and are there was to predict which patient will fall into which group (potentially reducing the number of examinations done that will not in fact be needed)? What you need to do: Have input into design prior to ethics approval; Work with another researcher to recruit patients; Work with another researcher to run a small focus group of patients; Collate and interpret results; Draft journal submission
Question: Are people filling in the new NSW Medical and Forensic Examination Record Adult Sexual Assault properly? The gist: A much more complex examination protocol was introduced in 2016. Are practitioners completely it correctional? If not is it a matter of lack of education or poor protocol design? What you need to do: Quality assurance project – no ethics approval required; Develop an assessment pro forma and use it to audit MFERs; Collate results; Draft an executive brief outlining where any problems lie and possible solutions
Question: Should sexual assault counsellors wear uniforms? The gist: Research shows patients like staff to wear identifying uniforms – but does this apply to patients seeing sexual assault counsellors? What you need to do: Have input into design prior to ethics approval; Work with another researcher to recruit patients; Perform phone interviews with patients; Collate and interpret results; Draft journal submission
Question: Do doctors and nurses working clinical forensic medicine participate in clinical supervision? The gist: Clinical supervision is widely used in some allied health professions (eg psychologists) and aims at checking that practitioners are resilient. How many forensic clinicians attend clinical supervision? What are the bebefits? What are the perceived disadvantages and barriers? What you need to do: Have input into design prior to ethics approval; Send an e-survey to relevant practitioners in the RCPA and FAMSACA; Collate and interpret results; Draft journal submission