Trauma informed care in medicine: current knowledge and future research directions.

Traumatic events (including sexual abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, and combat trauma) are associated with long-term physical and psychological effects. These events may influence patients' health care experiences and engagement in preventative care. Although the term trauma-informed care (TIC) is widely used, it is not well understood how to apply this concept in daily health care practice. On the basis of a synthesis of a review of the literature, the TIC pyramid is a conceptual and operational framework that can help physicians translate TIC principles into interactions with patients. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed in this article.

Identifying elements of patient-centered care in underserved populations: a qualitative study of patient perspectives.

Patient-centered care is an important goal in the delivery of healthcare. However, many patients do not engage in preventive medical care. In this pilot study, we conducted twenty in depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews at the University of Illinois at Chicago Health Sciences campus in a four month time frame. Many patients were underserved and underinsured, and we wanted to understand their experiences in the healthcare system. Using content analysis, several themes emerged from the interview data. Participants discussed the need for empathy and rapport with their providers. They identified provider behaviors that fostered a positive clinical relationship, including step-by step explanations of procedures, attention to body language and clinic atmosphere, and appropriate time management. Participants identified cost as the most common barrier to engaging in preventive care and discussed children and social support as motivating factors. A long-term relationship with a provider was an important motivator for preventive care, suggesting that the therapeutic alliance was essential to many patients. Conversely, many participants discussed a sense of dehumanization in the healthcare system, reporting that their life circumstances were overlooked, or that they were judged based on insurance status or ethnicity. We discuss implications for provider training and healthcare delivery, including the importance of patient-centered medical homes.

Self-reported physical health associations of traumatic events in medical and dental outpatients: a cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to understand the prevalence and severity of health-related sequelae of traumatic exposure in a nonpsychiatric, outpatient sample.Self-report surveys were completed by patients seeking outpatient medical (n = 123) and dental care (n = 125) at a large, urban academic medical center.Results suggested that trauma exposure was associated with a decrease in perceptions of overall health and an increase in pain interference at work. Contrary to prediction, a history of interpersonal trauma was associated with less physical and emotional interference with social activities. A history of trauma exposure was associated with an increase in time elapsed since last medical visit. Depression and anxiety did not mediate the relationship between trauma history and medical care.Based on these results, clinical and research implications in relation to the health effects of trauma are discussed. The results suggest that routine screening for traumatic events may be important, particularly when providers have long-term relationships with patients.

Teaching dental students to interact with survivors of traumatic events: development of a two-day module.

Dentists are likely to treat patients who have experienced a wide range of traumatic life events, including child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and exposure to combat. In order to effectively treat survivors of traumatic events, dentists must understand how these patients may present in oral health settings, the basic mandated reporting requirements related to abuse and neglect, and communication strategies to help engage trauma survivors in dental treatment. A traditional lecture-format educational module on trauma-informed care was developed and implemented for second-year dental students (N=92) at one U.S. dental school, after which a needs assessment was performed (all 92 students participated). This assessment then informed development of an enhanced module for the subsequent group of second-year dental students (N=102) at the same school. The revised (final) module was more interactive in nature, expanded to multiple sessions, and included more discussion of mandated reporting and appropriate dentist-patient communication in relation to traumatic events. All 102 students participated in assessments of the revised module. Comparison of pre and post tests and needs assessments between the initial and final modules indicated that the extended, more interactive final module was more effective in meeting the educational objectives. Results showed that the final module increased the students' knowledge in the health-related manifestations of traumatic events and slightly improved their confidence levels in treating survivors of trauma. Dentists who are prepared to deliver trauma-informed care may help individual patients feel more at ease and increase engagement in regular preventive care. Suggestions for future educational efforts in this area are discussed.

Treating patients with traumatic life experiences: providing trauma-informed care.

BACKGROUND: and Overview Dentists frequently treat patients who have a history of traumatic events. These traumatic events (including childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse and combat history) may influence how patients experience oral health care and may interfere with patients' engagement in preventive care. The purpose of this article is to provide a framework for how dentists can interact sensitively with patients who have survived traumatic events. CONCLUSIONS: The authors propose the trauma-informed care pyramid to help engage traumatized patients in oral health care. Evidence indicates that all of the following play an important role in treating traumatized patients: demonstrating strong behavioral and communication skills, understanding the health effects of trauma, engaging in interprofessional collaboration, understanding the provider's own trauma-related experiences and understanding when trauma screening should be used in oral health practice. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dental patients with a history of traumatic experiences are more likely to engage in negative health habits and to display fear of routine dental care. Although not all patients disclose a trauma history to their dentists, some patients might. The trauma-informed care pyramid provides a framework to guide dental care providers in interactions with many types of traumatized patients, including those who choose not to disclose their trauma history in the context of oral health care.