Psychiatric aspects of trauma care: survey of nurses and doctors

Abstract

This study reports on how 139 nursing and 42 medical staff in trauma units viewed psychiatric aspects of trauma, their training and the impact of their work upon them. Insufficient attention was paid in their units to the psychiatric aspects of trauma. There were important gaps in staff knowledge relating to the diagnosis and prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, and to the use of night sedation. Nearly all staff favoured providing information regarding post-traumatic psychiatric reactions for relatives, but nearly half had reservations about giving such information to patients. Job satisfaction was reported by most, but their emotional and training needs were generally not met.