TAP CARE GP study: trauma-informed transformation in general practice
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Informing development of an organisational intervention to strengthen primary care readiness to provide trauma-informed care: a multimethod qualitative study
IRAS ID
315766
Contact name
Natalia V Lewis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
1778139, R&D id
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Individual, interpersonal, and collective trauma is a highly prevalent and costly public health and clinical problem. Cumulative trauma across the lifespan is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and use of healthcare services. A high proportion of patients and healthcare professionals in general practice have histories of trauma that, left unaddressed, hamper access to healthcare and improvement in health outcomes. There is an opportunity to prevent or ameliorate some of the longer term impacts of trauma if it is better recognised and addressed in primary care.
Trauma-informed (TI) approaches are organisational change interventions that transform organisational policies, processes, and practices to prevent retraumatisation in services and improve experiences and outcomes for all patients and staff.
Our systematic review identified only six evaluations of TI organisational change interventions in primary care with limited theoretical development and some evidence for improvement in some patient outcomes. All studies identified limited organisational readiness as a major barrier to TI transformation. We drafted a logic model of a prototype TI organisational change intervention in primary care.
This study aims to: 1) explore to what extent current general practice provision adheres to principles of a TI approach; 2) identify organisation-specific needs, abilities, and preferences for a TI organisational change intervention; 3) co-develop programme theory for a TI organisational change intervention in general practice.
This qualitative study in four general practices in the southwest England includes analysis of: policies, facility observations, semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals and patients. The findings will inform the programme theory and refined logic model and quantifiable outcome measures for a TI organisational change intervention in general practice. An advisory group of trauma survivors and professionals who plan, commission, and deliver primary care will inform the study conduct, analysis, and dissemination of findings.REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
22/WA/0322
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion