A trauma-informed approach is a comprehensive medical and organizational approach to patient care, within which lies not the mechanical treatment of injuries but the recognition and explanation of what happened to the person. This approach makes treatment more transparent for patients and increases their level of involvement. Patients who tell doctors about how they got injured and get a clear, good-natured response, which makes them inclined to follow medical recommendations more seriously. This approach allows patients and doctors to cooperate and work together to achieve recovery. The doctor and patient share the responsibility for the treatment, including the passage of procedures, medication, and mental support. As a result, the trauma-informed approach is ideal for sensitive patients who need attentive care so that physical trauma does not subsequently turn into severe mental damage for them.
The trauma-informed approach is a new step toward removing the stigma in the medical field and turning hospitals into safe spaces for people with anxiety. People often react uniquely to trauma: anger, apathy, depression, grief, nightmares, flashbacks, and more (Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, 2020). Among these feelings, a special place can be occupied by guilt and shame, which can be aggravated by the inattentive attitude of medical personnel toward the patient.
This approach increases the degree of trust between doctors and patients. It significantly contributes to a speedy recovery, as patients often share their emotions and feelings and, most importantly, do not hide information about their past and state of health. Knowing precisely how a person was injured before proceeding with treatment is essential. With this knowledge, doctors and nurses can correctly adjust the recommendations and warn relatives about the dangers in the house or the street. This sort of therapy will not only help the patient recover faster but will make his family happier and, at the same time, reduce the likelihood of re-injury. Thus, this approach is currently the most considerate and sensitive toward patients who need support and are stressed due to trauma.
Reference
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. (2020). Trauma-informed approach [Video]. YouTube. Web.