Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

4-30-2020

Institution/Department

Maine Medical Center, Medical Education, Maine Medical Center Research Institute

MeSH Headings

Pregnancy, Female, Humans, Obstetrics

Abstract

Purpose: In women with a history of trauma routine events of pregnancy, labor, and delivery can be re-traumatizing. This study will explore how obstetric providers screening for and manage a history of trauma in patients during pregnancy.

Background: A traumatic event can be directly experienced or indirectly. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by exposure to a traumatic event and symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance behavior, negative mood/cognition, alterations in arousal, and dissociation relating to the trauma. Trauma-informed care recognizes the prevalence of trauma, and acknowledges the role trauma may have played in an individual’s life. Trauma and the development of PTSD affect women more than men making this a relevant issue for a woman’s health care provider. Lifetime prevalence of PTSD in reproductive age women is 9.7-20.2%. Given the prevalence of trauma, patients should be screened for childhood abuse and rape trauma. The obstetrician, having identified a trauma history can then make modifications to help the patient cope with stressors that may arrive during the course of prenatal care and delivery. We hypothesize that while trauma is regularly screened for in prenatal patients, there is wide practice variation in prenatal management patients with a trauma history.

Methods: To begin to address this, we propose to implement a survey of obstetric providers to collect preliminary data about their current perceptions and practices for trauma screening. An email survey will be distributed to obstetric providers in northern New England through Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network (NNEPQUIN).

Results/Conclusion: Study is ongoing, preliminary results are not yet available.

Comments

2020 Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat

Morgan Abbey- Resident

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