Trauma-informed Care Training in Trauma and Emergency Medicine: A Review of the Existing Curricula

• Published in: The western journal of emergency medicine Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 423 - 430
• Main Authors: Morra, Cecelia, Nguyen, Kevin, Sieracki, Rita, Pavlic, Ashley, Barry, Courtney
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine 01.05.2024; eScholarship Publishing, University of California
• Subjects: Curriculum; Emergency Medicine - education; Humans; Original Research; Patient-Centered Care; Trauma; Traumatology - education; Wounds and Injuries - therapy
• ISSN: 1936-900X; 1936-9018
• DOI: 10.5811/westjem.18394

Greater lifetime exposure to psychological trauma correlates with a higher number of health comorbidities and negative health outcomes. However, physicians often are not specifically trained in how to care for patients with trauma, especially in acute care settings. Our objective was to identify implemented trauma-informed care (TIC) training protocols for emergency and/or trauma service physicians that have both sufficient detail that they can be adapted and outcome data indicating positive impact. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in MEDLINE (Ovid), Scopus, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Ebsco's Academic Search Premier, and MedEdPORTAL. Inclusion criteria were EM and trauma service clinicians (medical doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, residents), adult and/or pediatric patients, and training evaluation. Evaluation was based on the Kirkpatrick Model. We screened 2,280 unique articles and identified two different training protocols. Results demonstrated the training included patient-centered communication and interprofessional collaboration. One curriculum demonstrated that targeted outcomes were due to the training (Level 4). Both curricula received overall positive reactions (Level 1) and illustrated behavioral change (Level 3). Neither were found to specifically illustrate learning due to the training (Level 2). Study findings from our review show a paucity of published TIC training protocols that demonstrate positive impact and are described sufficiently to be adopted broadly. Current training protocols demonstrated an increasing comfort level with the TIC approach, integration into current practices, and referrals to trauma intervention specialists.