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Medical Students' Perspectives on Trauma-Informed Care Training
Ellen Goldstein1, Jann Murray-García2, Andrés F Sciolla3
1Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Primary Care Research Fellowship. egoldstein5@wisc.edu.
The Permanente Journal
|February 6, 2018
Summary
Medical students found a brief trauma-informed care course beneficial for recognizing and responding to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in patients. The training highlighted the need for resources and further education to effectively implement trauma-informed care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Public Health
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Childhood trauma significantly impacts adult health, yet healthcare providers often avoid addressing it.
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have well-documented negative health consequences.
- Medical students require training to effectively manage patients with a history of trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate medical students' perspectives on a brief trauma-informed care training course.
- To assess the course's impact on students' ability to recognize and address ACEs in clinical practice.
- To identify challenges and necessary resources for implementing trauma-informed care.
Main Methods:
- A convenience sample of 20 medical students participated in a 6-hour trauma-informed care training.
- The training comprised lectures, discussions, and practical exercises over 3 days.
- Post-training questionnaires assessed student perspectives on benefits, challenges, and resources.
Main Results:
- Students reported increased ability to identify clinical signs of ACE exposure in adult patients.
- Participants learned to initiate conversations about ACEs and identify support resources.
- Inadequate resources and treatment links were identified as key challenges.
Conclusions:
- Trauma-informed care training can bridge knowledge gaps and benefit medical students.
- Initial training can foster interest in trauma's clinical relevance.
- Further training is recommended to build skills and confidence in providing trauma-informed care.
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