Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
2-24-2026
First Advisor
Sandra King
Abstract
The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the effect of an evidence-based educational intervention on staff attitudes toward trauma-informed and patient-centered communication in an outpatient behavioral health clinic. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, the project aimed to improve staff knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in applying trauma-informed communication strategies across all clinic roles. An eight-week educational intervention based on the SAMHSA Trauma-Informed Care Toolkit was implemented for clinical and administrative staff. A quantitative pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design was used, with outcomes measured using an adapted Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care scale. All six clinic staff members completed pre- and post-intervention assessments. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests to compare mean score changes. Post-intervention results demonstrated statistically significant improvements in trauma-informed communication practices, with mean scores increasing from 2.6 to 4.2 (p < .05), alongside upward trends in knowledge and attitude domains. These findings indicate enhanced staff confidence and greater consistency in applying trauma-informed and patient-centered communication strategies. Although limited by a small sample size and single-site design, the project demonstrates that nurse-led, clinic-wide education can strengthen staff preparedness, promote safer therapeutic interactions, and support the sustainable integration of trauma-informed, patient-centered care within outpatient behavioral health settings.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Brown, JayLa, "Standardizing Patient-Centered and Trauma-Informed Communication Practices Among Staff in a Behavioral Health Setting" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 306.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/306
