Knowledge, Practices, and Perceptions of Screening Adults for Childhood Trauma in Primary Care Settings
Session Title
Additional Abstracts
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Social Work
Faculty Mentor
Kori Bloomquist, Ph.D.; Cheryl Fortner-Wood, Ph.D.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify the knowledge, practices, and perceptions of screening adult patients for childhood trauma among primary health care professionals in York County, South Carolina. Childhood trauma is related to many poor health outcomes and early mortality in adult survivors. Adult patients who visit primary care agencies are asked to disclose full medical histories, but they are rarely asked about childhood trauma. The failure to ask about childhood trauma is a missed opportunity to understand the overall well-being of a patient. Despite the potential of primary care facilities to implement trauma screening into adult patient visits, routine trauma screening of adult patients remains underutilized in practice. Much research exists on the prevention of childhood trauma, but there are fewer interventions to support adult survivors of such trauma. Integrating screening of adult patients in primary care settings is feasible, but there are significant gaps between trauma screening research and practice. This study used modified, existing quantitative scales to sample professionals in multidisciplinary roles within healthcare settings to identify the knowledge, practices, and perceptions of screening adult patients for childhood trauma. Results of this study demonstrated that health professionals’ knowledge of childhood trauma is higher than the likelihood to practice screening for childhood trauma in adult patients. Time was the most common barrier to implementing screening into practice. The results gleaned from this study have the potential to further research and practice related to screening for childhood trauma in primary care settings.
Course Assignment
MCNR 300 - Fortner
Other Presentations/Performances
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program Virtual Symposium, Rock Hill, SC., June 2020
Grant Support?
The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program
Knowledge, Practices, and Perceptions of Screening Adults for Childhood Trauma in Primary Care Settings
The purpose of this study is to identify the knowledge, practices, and perceptions of screening adult patients for childhood trauma among primary health care professionals in York County, South Carolina. Childhood trauma is related to many poor health outcomes and early mortality in adult survivors. Adult patients who visit primary care agencies are asked to disclose full medical histories, but they are rarely asked about childhood trauma. The failure to ask about childhood trauma is a missed opportunity to understand the overall well-being of a patient. Despite the potential of primary care facilities to implement trauma screening into adult patient visits, routine trauma screening of adult patients remains underutilized in practice. Much research exists on the prevention of childhood trauma, but there are fewer interventions to support adult survivors of such trauma. Integrating screening of adult patients in primary care settings is feasible, but there are significant gaps between trauma screening research and practice. This study used modified, existing quantitative scales to sample professionals in multidisciplinary roles within healthcare settings to identify the knowledge, practices, and perceptions of screening adult patients for childhood trauma. Results of this study demonstrated that health professionals’ knowledge of childhood trauma is higher than the likelihood to practice screening for childhood trauma in adult patients. Time was the most common barrier to implementing screening into practice. The results gleaned from this study have the potential to further research and practice related to screening for childhood trauma in primary care settings.
