Integrating trauma-informed approaches into obstetrics and gynecology medical education: a framework for safer learning and care

Trauma-informed medical education extends the principles of trauma-informed care into medical training to foster awareness and sensitivity to trauma, aiming to avoid further harm. Trauma-informed care is patient-centered, emphasizes shared decision-making, and promotes safety, empowerment, and healing within physician—patient relationships. Similarly, trauma-informed medical education promotes a safe learning environment in which learners and educators share mutual respect and responsibilities for achieving educational goals. Trauma is a common human experience, with substantial portions of the population experiencing adverse events. Medical students also report high rates of childhood trauma. Medical education itself can exacerbate trauma, affecting learners’ cognitive load, emotional resilience, and capacity to learn. The sensitive nature of obstetrics and gynecology makes it particularly relevant for a trauma-informed approach. Despite this need, trauma-informed training is sparse in medical education. Notably, few trauma-informed care curricula focus on obstetrics and gynecology, especially at the clerkship level. Incorporating trauma-informed medical education in obstetrics and gynecology curricula can enhance understanding of gynecologic and obstetric conditions’ trauma-related pathophysiology. Clinical training should involve trauma-informed patient interactions, sensitive history taking, and examinations. Beyond obstetrics and gynecology, trauma-informed medical education should permeate the entire medical educational continuum, shaping academic and administrative cultures. Developing and studying the impact of trauma-informed medical education will support both learners and the patients they serve.