An intervention addressing secondary traumatic stress during a child abuse pediatrics rotation for residents: A...

Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) refers to the emotional response experienced by individuals caring for those who have experienced trauma. Pediatric residents rotating through Child Abuse Pediatrics (CAP) are vulnerable to STS. This has significant implications on trainee wellbeing and work performance while potentially impacting patient care. To address this, an educational intervention was developed, which included an informational handout and a group session facilitated by a CAP program psychologist. This study explored resident experiences and the impact of the intervention.

A qualitative study using inductive thematic analysis methodology was conducted using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 pediatric residents at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada between April and October 2024. Interviews were analyzed iteratively for themes, and a coding structure was developed. Data collection continued until no new themes were identified, indicating saturation.

Pediatrics residents described positive experiences with the intervention during their CAP rotation. The handout was reported to provide foundational knowledge and the psychologist-led session allowed for protected time to process experiences. Residents reported impacts of the intervention, including improved STS knowledge, increased recognition of STS, and feelings of validation. Importantly, residents reported that the knowledge and skills gained from the intervention were widely applicable to other rotations and personal experiences.

This study describes a novel intervention that addresses STS during a CAP rotation. Residents reported that this intervention is strongly impactful, fills a gap in residency training programs, and has broader applicability throughout residency training.