SANE Well

Name: SANE Well
Author: University of Arizona

University of Arizona

DOCUMENTED

Published in academic literature

For:Clinicians & Healthcare Professionals

Free

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App Summary

SANE Well is a mobile app designed for sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) to reduce burnout by providing self-care activities, positive coping strategies, and educational resources. The app's design is based on the principles of psychological first aid, an evidence-informed approach to assist individuals after traumatic events, with content developed through focus groups with SANEs. The associated research concludes that the application offers a novel and accessible way to encourage positive coping strategies for nurses to protect their well-being.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

The SANE Well mobile application integrates three core modules to support the well-being of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs). The interface delivers curated self-care activities and professional educational resources tailored to the specific demands of the SANE role. A self-check-in function facilitates longitudinal tracking of emotional states via emoji-based input and brief textual records. The system is designed to provide accessible, on-demand strategies to mitigate occupational stressors and enhance professional resilience.

Evidence & Research Context

The application's design and development process are detailed in a peer-reviewed publication.
Its intervention model is grounded in the principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA), an evidence-informed framework for mitigating the effects of trauma exposure.
Content was developed through a user-centered design process, incorporating direct input from focus groups with practicing SANEs to ensure relevance and utility.
Preliminary usability assessments conducted with SANEs during clinical trainings indicated the platform has efficient functionality and aligns with its intended purpose.

Intended Use & Scope

This application is intended for use by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) as a professional support tool. It serves as an adjunct resource for self-managed stress reduction, burnout prevention, and resilience enhancement. The tool does not provide clinical diagnosis or treatment and is not a substitute for professional mental healthcare for vicarious trauma or other conditions.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Development/Design Paper

Burnout Reduction Strategies Using Mobile-Based Applications: The Creation and Development of the SANE Well App

Williams et al. (2024) · Journal of Forensic Nursing

Describes the research-driven development of this app

Introduction Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) provide specialized medical forensic care to survivors of sexual assault, often working in stressful conditions, with routine exposure to the traumatic experiences of their patients. SANEs experience high levels of both vicarious trauma and burnout. Purpose The purpose of this article was to describe the development of a SANE support application, accessible to all SANEs, that utilizes self-care and positive coping strategies to enhance SANE resilience and thereby reduce burnout. Methods The conceptual framework for the SANE support application was psychological first aid, an evidence-informed, manualized intervention to assist individuals in the immediate aftermath of exposure to potentially traumatic events. Focus groups with SANEs informed the content of the application named "SANE Well." Result SANE Well delivers these helpful coping elements within an easy-to-use, mobile platform, at no cost. User testing during two SANE clinical skills laboratory trainings revealed the app had smooth and efficient functionality and meets its intended goals without unnecessary complexities. Conclusion There is an urgent need for SANEs to protect their well-being while they care for individuals who have experienced sexual assault. The SANE Well application offers a novel way to provide and encourage positive coping strategies for nurses to reduce burnout.

In the Media

News

University of Arizona College of Nursing researcher Rachel H. Adler developed SANE Well to address cancer pain management for survivors, using an innovative app-based music intervention that blends science, technology, and clinical insight. The research team aims to create patient-centered solutions that could reduce reliance on opioids and improve quality of life for the nearly half of U.S. cancer survivors who live with ongoing pain.

ArizonaRead article