Building skills and resilience in child abuse pediatricians: A novel program to address Secondary Traumatic Stress

Jennifer Smith; Romy Cho; Christiane Martin; Emma Cory; Tanya Smith; Michelle Shouldice

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105082

Building skills and resilience in child abuse pediatricians: A novel program to address Secondary Traumatic Stress

Child Abuse Negl. 2021 Jul:117:105082. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105082. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Authors

Jennifer Smith¹, Romy Cho², Christiane Martin³, Emma Cory², Tanya Smith², Michelle Shouldice²

Affiliations

¹ University of Toronto, Department of Pediatrics, Toronto, Canada; The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 1X8, Canada. Electronic address: jennifer_n.smith@sickkids.ca.
² University of Toronto, Department of Pediatrics, Toronto, Canada; The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 1X8, Canada.
³ University of Toronto, Department of Pediatrics, Toronto, Canada.

PMID: 33930661
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105082

Abstract

Background: Secondary traumatic Stress (STS) is an increasingly recognized phenomenon experienced by clinicians working with patients who have experienced trauma firsthand. STS is experienced in a range of clinical settings; medical trainees and those working in Child Abuse Pediatrics (CAP) are at particular risk of experiencing STS. To date, there are no interventions described to address STS experienced by medical trainees in the context of CAP training.

Objective: The aim of this project was to design and pilot an innovative program to increase resilience and address STS symptoms among fellows in a CAP training program.

Participants and setting: The Therapeutic Group Sessions (TGS) program was developed for CAP fellows at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

Methods: The intervention involved mandatory, monthly small group sessions facilitated by a consistent mental health professional throughout fellowship. Sessions included low intensity focusing activities, sharing impactful work-related experiences, mental health professional-led discussion of strategies and reflection on the session. Written evaluations were completed to understand the perceived impact on fellows and were analyzed for themes.

Results: Fellows reported improvements in perceived STS symptoms and increased feelings of resilience. Unanticipated positive outcomes were described including, a highly bonded fellowship group and transferrable skills gained in supportive communication. Programs developed to support clinicians in other settings are reviewed and compared to the TGS program.

Conclusions: This is the first program aimed at improving resilience and addressing STS among child abuse fellows. Outcomes demonstrated numerous positive impacts that are widely applicable to the broader clinical setting.

Keywords: Child abuse; Child abuse pediatrics; Intervention; Medical education; Physician well-being; Secondary traumatic stress.

MeSH terms

Child
Child Abuse* / prevention & control
Compassion Fatigue*
Fellowships and Scholarships
Health Personnel
Humans
Pediatricians