Abuse survivor perspectives on trauma inquiry in obstetrical practice

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Patient Communication

Background:

• Prenatal care settings present opportunities to identify and support abuse survivors.
• Effective physician communication is crucial for patient engagement and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore abuse survivor perspectives on optimal physician approaches to trauma inquiry during prenatal care.

Main Methods:

• A focus group was conducted with six adult female abuse survivors.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged for "safe" trauma inquiry: clear definition of trauma, clear purpose for inquiry, reassurance of routine nature, confidentiality, and provision of non-psychiatric resources.

Conclusions:

• Clearly explaining the purpose of trauma inquiry is vital for effectively engaging abuse survivors in obstetric care.