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Published on: February 16, 2011
Trauma-informed care
Heather N Williams1, Brenna Farley2
1Director-SAFEchild Advocacy Center, Medical Director-Child Maltreatment Team, WakeMed Children's Hospital, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Insights
Trauma-informed care in pediatrics lacks a universal standard. Educating medical providers on childhood trauma and its effects, including vicarious trauma, enhances patient and provider well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Trauma-informed care (TIC) is increasingly researched but lacks standardization in pediatrics.
- Childhood trauma significantly impacts a child and caregiver's physical health.
- Medical providers face risks of vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the need for universal trauma-informed care standards in pediatric medicine.
- To emphasize the importance of understanding childhood trauma's pervasive effects.
- To address the impact of vicarious trauma on healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on trauma-informed care principles.
- Analysis of the intersection between childhood trauma and pediatric healthcare.
- Examination of provider-specific trauma exposure.
Main Results:
- Pediatric medicine has not yet adopted a universal standard for trauma-informed care.
- Childhood trauma's complexity and its link to physical wellness are critical considerations.
- Medical providers are susceptible to vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.
Conclusions:
- Standardizing trauma-informed care is essential for pediatric settings.
- Educating providers on trauma mitigates negative impacts on patients and clinicians.
- Proactive education enhances provider assessment skills and overall care quality.
Abstract:
In recent years, trauma informed care has become a heavily researched topic; however, it has yet to achieve a universal standard in the field of pediatric medicine. One of the primary tenants of trauma informed care is a clear understanding of the pervasiveness and complexities of childhood trauma, and its intersection with a child and caregiver's physical wellness. A major component of trauma informed care is addressing the way medical providers may be exposed to vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. By taking proactive steps to educate medical providers on the effects of trauma, they are better equipped to assess a family's needs and provide enhanced quality of care for their patients and themselves.
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