Trauma-informed physiotherapy and the principles of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment: a qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: Trauma is common and may lead to lasting adverse effects on health. Trauma-informed practice does not treat trauma but uses a strengths-based approach to encourage engagement in services. Objective: To understand how physiotherapy attends to trauma-informed principles. Methods: This qualitative ethnographic study was set in an Australian hospital. Three data collection methods were used, including observations of clinical practice, interactive reflexive group discussions with physiotherapists, and interviews with patients. Data analysis included an initial inductive phase followed by thematic mapping to trauma-informed principles. Critical reflexivity was used throughout to exa..