Evaluation der Gewaltopferambulanz des Instituts für Rechtsmedizin Greifswald durch die Betroffenen

After more than 12 years of experience overseeing the outpatient clinic for victims of violence at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Greifswald there arose a need to evaluate the established examination environment from the perspective of the affected individuals. In a voluntary anonymous study the impression of the examination setting was evaluated using a specifically designed questionnaire including diverse parameters. In addition to demographic details (age/sex), data were gathered on aspects such as appointment scheduling, choice of the examination site, and the examiner’s perceived professional and communication skills. The study included all victims of violence who attended a voluntary forensic medical examination from 14 July 2021 to 13 July 2022 (n = 108). Participants were approached for consent to participate through an online or printed survey and 23 individuals (comprising 13 females, 9 males, and 1 with unspecified gender) participated, yielding a response rate of 21%. Among the participants 36% fell within the age bracket of 46–55 years, while an additional 27% were in the age range of 36–45 years, highlighting a notable emphasis on these two age groups. In the majority of cases (69%) the affected persons arranged the appointment. Scheduling the appointment was categorized as “easy” by 77% of respondents. In 73% of cases the examination was carried out at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Greifswald. When the examination was carried out somewhere else, 36% of the participants stated that they would not have been able to reach Greifswald. In more than 70% of the cases, the forensic medical examination itself and the empathy of the examiner were rated as “excellent”. The question regarding whether to accept the offer of a voluntary forensic medical examination was answered with a resounding “yes” by 80% of the participants. The analyzed data show that the forensic medical examination was considered to be very valuable for the affected persons. The outpatient examination, with its flexible appointment scheduling and choice of examination site, aligns with the needs of both a rural area and the wishes of affected persons.