Trauma-Informed Care Training for Dietetic Interns Improves Attitudes Toward Women Who Have Experienced Trauma

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess change in attitudes toward women who have experienced trauma and to describe interns’ reflections regarding the provision of universal trauma precautions and the training sessions. MethodsDietetic interns participated in 3 2-hour trauma-informed care (TIC) training sessions. A multiple-methods design was used, incorporating a presurvey and postsurvey to assess change in attitudes and thematic analysis to assess self-reflections. ResultsThe attitudes of the interns improved across all statements. Two components measuring attitudes about sympathetic feelings toward mothers with underlying trauma and substance use disorder during pregnancy and retaining custody of their children reached statistical significance (P < 0.05). Four themes were identified in the self-reflections: TIC training was informative, valuable, and warranted, and interns felt comfortable discussing TIC. Conclusions and ImplicationsStudents positively assessed the TIC training and changed their attitudes. Trauma-informed care can be effectively incorporated within dietetics education to support students in developing therapeutic relationships in their future nutrition care standards.