The Effects of Trauma-informed Care Organization on Birth Professionals and Women's Experiences of Trauma.

NCT07823361 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: TUBİTAK-125C090
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 345
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effects of integrating trauma-informed care (TIC) into the organizational structure of maternity services on women giving birth and healthcare professionals involved in perinatal care. The study will be conducted at Tarsus State Hospital and will implement a systematic, organization-wide TIC approach designed to improve the quality and psychological safety of maternity care. Trauma-informed care recognizes the potential impact of previous and birth-related trauma and seeks to prevent re-traumatization through respectful communication, emotional safety, informed consent, empowerment, collaborative decision-making, and support for women's autonomy and dignity. In maternity services, these principles may contribute to more positive childbirth experiences while also supporting healthcare professionals who may experience secondary traumatic stress through repeated exposure to traumatic events. The intervention will involve multiple groups within the hospital, including organizational leaders, healthcare professionals, and support personnel. Organizational leaders will receive training on institutional implementation of TIC and the development of sustainable organizational strategies. Healthcare professionals, including midwives, nurses, obstetricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, will receive training on recognizing trauma, trauma-sensitive communication, and integrating TIC principles into routine maternity care. Support personnel will receive training focused on respectful communication and awareness of trauma-related sensitivities. Educational activities will include case discussions, group exercises, role-playing, and problem-solving sessions. The study will evaluate whether this organization-wide approach contributes to improved trauma-informed practices among healthcare professionals and more positive experiences among women receiving maternity care.

Conditions

Psychological Trauma; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

Trauma-Informed Care; Traumatic Childbirth; Birth Trauma; Maternity Care; Perinatal Care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Birth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms

  Birth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms will be assessed using the City Birth Trauma Scale (City BiTS). The scale assesses post-traumatic stress symptoms related to childbirth. The total score ranges from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating greater severity of birth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms and therefore a worse outcome.

  4-6 weeks postpartum

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Trauma-related stress symptoms in maternity healthcare professionals

  40-60 days after completion of the training program.

Study Arms (2)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Women giving birth during the pre-intervention period, before implementation of the organization-wide trauma-informed care program.

Trauma-Informed Care Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Women giving birth during the post-intervention period, after implementation of the organization-wide trauma-informed care program for maternity service personnel.

Behavioral: trauma-informed care training

Interventions

trauma-informed care training BEHAVIORAL

An organization-wide trauma-informed care program involving training of organizational leaders, healthcare professionals, and support personnel to promote trauma-sensitive communication, psychological safety, informed consent, women's autonomy, and prevention of re-traumatization in maternity services.

Trauma-Informed Care Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Women:
• Aged 18 years or older.
• Giving birth at Tarsus State Hospital during the study period.
• Providing voluntary informed consent.
• Healthcare professionals, organizational leaders, and support staff:
• Aged 18 years or older.
• Working in maternity or related services at Tarsus State Hospital.
• Participating in the trauma-informed care intervention according to their professional role.
• Providing voluntary informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Women:
• Severe postpartum complications preventing participation or completion of study assessments.
• Incomplete study assessments.
• Healthcare professionals, organizational leaders, and support staff:
• Failure to complete the required training or study assessments. Incomplete study assessments.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tarsus University: lead
• The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Tarsus State Hospital Tarsus, Mersin, Türkiye

Mersin, Tarsus, 33400, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Psychological Trauma; Birth Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Wounds and Injuries

Study Officials

• Özlem KOÇ, PhD

  Tarsus University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Özlem KOÇ, PhD

CONTACT

+905520839594; ozlemkoc@tarsus.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Arm 1: Control cohort (women giving birth before implementation of trauma-informed care training) Arm 2: Intervention cohort (women giving birth after implementation of trauma-informed care training)
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2026
• First Posted: September 16, 2026
• Study Start: September 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 15, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2028
• Last Updated: September 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)