Post-injury medical and psychosocial care in children: Impact of traumatic stress symptoms

This study examined after-hospital medical and psychosocial care parents sought for their child following an injury and how this was affected by parent and child traumatic stress symptoms. Whereas the majority of parents (>70%) reported seeking after-hospital pediatric medical services, less than one-third sought psychosocial assistance. More severe child or parent acute traumatic stress within the first month post injury was associated with a greater number of subsequent outpatient medical visits. Level of child or parent acute stress was also related to the type of psychosocial help sought. Results support trauma-informed care and symptom screening in children and parents post injury.