First Advisor

Eric M. Rodriguez

Date of Award

Spring 6-6-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health Studies: Community Health Promotion and University Honors

Department

Health Studies

Language

English

Subjects

Trauma-Informed Care, healthcare workers, emergency department, COVID-19, secondary-traumatic stress

DOI

10.15760/honors.1354

Abstract

The main objective of the literature review is to use the trauma-informed care paradigm to argue that the current implementation of trauma-informed care reinforces hierarchies of harm, leading to feelings of moral obligation and moral injury while perpetuating othering. This literature review criticizes trauma-informed care, emphasizing lived experiences against the characteristics trauma-informed care aspires to reflect. The review centers on the broad themes of understanding, universality, and acceptance of the present trauma-informed care paradigm. The critique comes from the silently excluded group of healthcare workers, with a personal perspective from a professional who worked in an urban hospital emergency department during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Given the prevalence of trauma, a body of empirical research links trauma to various adverse social and health outcomes, driving many to assert a trauma-informed approach to health, education, social services, and public health is critical. The literature given is intended to elicit thought on the topic, 'Can framing the lived traumatic experiences of healthcare workers during COVID-19 bring innovation to a public health initiative?'

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/40253

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