Anismatta, Stephanie. "Mommy I'm scared": children experiencing symptoms of trauma following a traumatic incident and hospitalization. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-r493-8y88
DescriptionFor years, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), and other diagnoses after experiencing a traumatic event(s), has been researched to find probable causes and possible interventions. However, medical settings have been overlooked as a place where early identification of at-risk patients can be reached. Identifying appropriate interventions in hospital settings for children and adolescents who are experiencing symptoms of trauma following traumatic experiences is necessary in order to provide comprehensive services to patients. These traumatic experiences, or adverse childhood experiences, may include car accidents, loss of a loved one, emergency surgeries, natural disasters, and non-accidental trauma such as physical or sexual abuse. Therefore, this research aimed to better explore the connection between psychological and physical trauma and the overall importance of proving psychological care to primary care patients. The current retrospective study examined an existing data set of 30 patients, ages eight to fourteen, and a respective caregiver in a children’s hospital located in an urban city. This study examined the association between parent and child reported predictors of PTSD using the STEPP (Screening Tool for Early Predictors of PTSD). This study also examined the association between STEPP scores and injury severity, as well as the child’s age and gender. This prospective observational study used a Spearman Rho correlation analysis, which revealed no significant relationship between child and parent STEPP scores. Results also revealed no significant relationship between STEPP scores and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Implications for future research and practice are discussed.