Trauma-informed care in emergency departments
Owen lays groundwork for online educational intervention
More than 70% of adults worldwide have experienced some form of trauma, which is associated with many chronic physical and severe mental health conditions. Therefore, understanding the trauma-informed approach to care is important for emergency department clinicians who frequently encounter patients with a history of traumatic experiences such as physical or sexual abuse, natural disasters, or community violence.
“Trauma-informed care emphasizes the need to recognize trauma’s widespread impact, identify symptoms, and utilize principles that prevent retraumatization,” said Christian “Paige” Owen, PhD, MSN, RN, CEN, an assistant professor in the Department of Research at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston. “Although it is known to benefit patient care across various settings, its adoptions in emergency departments is not well understood or standardized.”
Her research project, “Assessment and Feasibility of Trauma-Informed Care Training among Emergency Health Care Providers Working in a Level 1 Trauma Facility,” aims to bridge that gap.
With a $5,000 Dean’s Research Award, Owen’s team will assess the baseline knowledge of emergency department clinicians by examining their current understanding, opinions, and self-rated competence regarding trauma-informed care. The team will then analyze variations in knowledge and practices across different clinician groups to develop and test the feasibility of an online educational intervention tailored to improved trauma-informed care training in the emergency department setting. Owen launched the project in July 2024, and it will run through March 2025.
Owen expects that the findings from the project will lead to better patient outcomes, reduced clinical burnout, and a more compassionate approach to emergency care.
“Trauma-informed care is not just a concept but a practical framework that can significantly enhance patient care,” said Owen.
Co-investigators on the project are Maja Djukic, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate professor and assistant dean for research at Cizik School of Nursing, and Sandra L. McKay, MD, FAAP, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
Laura Frnka-Davis
