Trauma-Informed Medical Care: Patient Response to a Primary Care Provider Communication Training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care Medicine
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Trauma exposure is linked to adverse mental health and physical outcomes.
• Primary care providers (PCPs) often lack adequate training in trauma's impact and survivor interaction.
• Effective communication strategies are crucial for PCPs working with trauma survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 6-hour Continuing Medical Education (CME) course, Trauma-Informed Medical Care (TI-Med).
• To assess the impact of trauma-informed communication training on patient perceptions of primary care providers.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial design was used across four primary care sites.
• Two sites received the TI-Med training immediately, while two served as wait-list controls.
• Patient partnership scores were assessed via surveys completed by 400 patients before and after PCP training.

Main Results:

• Patients rated PCPs significantly higher on partnership issues after the TI-Med training.
• Patients with trauma or posttraumatic stress symptoms showed lower partnership scores, highlighting a need for specialized approaches.
• The training demonstrated feasibility and preliminary efficacy in improving PCP-patient communication.

Conclusions:

• The TI-Med training is a promising initial strategy for equipping PCPs with trauma-informed communication skills.
• Further research with more specific trauma-related outcomes is warranted.
• Improving PCP communication can enhance the care experience for trauma survivors.