Developing a Sexual Assault Emergency Action Plan: Modified Delphi Consensus Recommendations From the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine

Why It Matters

Standardized EAPs give clinicians clear, survivor‑centred protocols, improving response confidence and potentially increasing reporting rates. This strengthens athlete safety and institutional accountability across sport contexts.

Key Takeaways

• Consensus defined 90 items for sexual-assault EAP
• 96% support mandatory EAP for all sports organizations
• Trauma-informed language and environment emphasized
• Follow-up plan required with medical and mental health
• Annual training and outcome tracking recommended

Pulse Analysis

Sexual violence remains a pervasive yet under‑reported problem in athletics, with surveys indicating that up to 78 % of athletes have experienced some form of misconduct and only a fraction file formal complaints. The hidden nature of these incidents hampers timely medical, psychological, and legal interventions, leaving survivors vulnerable to long‑term health consequences. Sports‑medicine clinicians are often the first point of contact, but many report uncertainty about reporting protocols, confidentiality, and appropriate care pathways. This gap underscores the necessity for a clear, survivor‑centred response mechanism that can be deployed quickly and consistently across varied sporting environments.

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine tackled the gap with a modified Delphi study that gathered 24 experts and athlete survivors to design a sexual‑assault emergency action plan (EAP). Through four rounds of anonymous voting, the panel reached consensus on 90 items covering mandatory reporting, confidentiality, trauma‑informed communication, safety assessment, and coordinated follow‑up care. The framework mirrors the familiar EAP format used for medical emergencies, letting clinicians embed sexual‑assault response into existing protocols while preserving individualized survivor attention. Early disclosure of legal duties and transparent resource lists aim to build trust and lessen fear of institutional retaliation.

Adopting the consensus‑based EAP demands more than a written checklist; it requires ongoing education, interdisciplinary rehearsals, and systematic outcome tracking. The study recommends annual training for all personnel who interact with athletes, routine debriefings after disclosures, and transparent access to the plan for athletes themselves—practices that embody the concept of ‘institutional courage’ and aim to counteract systemic bias. While the panel’s composition was largely North American and female, the template offers a scalable foundation that can be adapted to diverse cultural and legal contexts. Future research should evaluate real‑world uptake, impact on reporting rates, and survivor satisfaction to refine the model further.