Paediatric Major Trauma Psychology Service Evaluation: An Early Review of an Integrated Model of Care

Area of Science:

• Paediatric trauma care
• Psychological impact of trauma
• Healthcare service evaluation

Background:

• Major trauma is a significant cause of death and disability in children and young people (CYP) in the UK.
• While physical recovery is well-researched, psychological and psychosocial impacts in paediatric populations are often overlooked.
• Major trauma centres (MTCs) provide specialist care for life-altering injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the first year of an integrated psychological support pathway in a London paediatric MTC.
• To assess the impact of a proactive approach to psychological screening and intervention for children and families.
• To understand patient and family experiences with the new psychological service.

Main Methods:

• Service evaluation of a proactive, integrated psychological pathway.
• Inpatient and outpatient psychological support, screening for trauma symptoms, and interventions.
• Liaison with community mental health, social care, and third sector organisations.
• Descriptive statistics on demographics, injury mechanisms, and screening scores at 6 weeks and 3 months.
• Collection of patient feedback.

Main Results:

• Significant increase in the number of children and families receiving psychological support.
• Overwhelmingly positive feedback from service users regarding the psychological pathway.
• Demonstration of the pathway's effectiveness in identifying and addressing psychological distress.

Conclusions:

• The integrated psychological pathway has successfully enhanced support for paediatric major trauma patients and their families.
• Clinical implications include the importance of proactive psychological care in MTCs.
• Further development areas for the pathway should be considered to optimize long-term outcomes.