Nurses’ competencies, barriers, and experience in trauma-informed care: a cross-sectional study
AI Summary
TIC competencies varied significantly by work setting; mental health and operating room nurses scored highest, paediatric nurses lowest.
Greater knowledge, more positive opinions, and fewer perceived barriers predicted higher TIC competence, explaining 52% of variance in chronic pain management.
Targeted training, incorporation of TIC into nursing curricula, and institutional support are crucial to advance trauma-informed practices and improve patient centred outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a significant public health issue in Saudi Arabia, and its prevalence is consistent with global trends. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach that is used to reduce the likelihood of traumatization and to encourage individuals to better engage with therapy. Currently, empirical data concerning the TIC competencies of nurses in the management of chronic pain in Saudi Arabia are lacking.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to: (1) assess nurses’ knowledge, opinions, competencies, barriers, and practices related to TIC across work settings, and (2) examine how these factors are associated with overall TIC competence in chronic pain management.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online survey distributed to nurses working in hospitals in the Jazan region. A total of 272 nurses were recruited using convenience sampling. We collected data using the TIC Provider Survey to evaluate nurses’ competencies, barriers, and experiences in TIC over five months. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate whether years of nursing practice experience were associated with nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, competencies, and practices related to TIC in chronic pain management.
RESULTS: Significant differences were observed across work settings in knowledge, opinions, and competencies (all p < 0.001), but not in perceived barriers (p = 0.61). Nurses in mental health and operating room settings demonstrated higher competence than those in other units, whereas pediatric nurses reported the lowest scores. Regression analysis indicated that greater knowledge (β = 0.32, p < 0.001), more positive opinions (β = 0.28, p < 0.001), and fewer perceived barriers (β = 0.19, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of TIC competence, explaining 52% of the variance.
CONCLUSIONS: This study presents new evidence regarding the variability of TIC competencies among nurses in different work settings. The results highlight the significance of knowledge, opinions, and practices in determining TIC competence. Targeted training, incorporation of TIC into nursing curricula, and institutional support are crucial for advancing trauma-informed practices in chronic pain management and for improving patient-centered care outcomes.
J Behav Med. 2026 Jul 8. doi: 10.1007/s10865-026-00695-x. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAlthough most research has focused on average indices of sleep, night-to-night variability in sleep...
J Elder Abuse Negl. 2026 Jul 8:1-24. doi: 10.1080/08946566.2026.2698542. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAbuse of older people (AOP) is a global public health problem with serious...
Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2026 Jul 8:1-28. doi: 10.1080/26410397.2026.2698235. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThis article investigates the political practices related to abortion in Ecuador from their...
J Med Internet Res. 2026 Jul 8;28:e99203. doi: 10.2196/99203.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Mental disorders affect nearly one-third of adults in Germany, with a 12-month prevalence of approximately 28%....
JMIR Med Educ. 2026 Jul 8;12:e82812. doi: 10.2196/82812.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Taiwan is projected to become a "super-aged" society by 2025, leading to an increasing demand for community...
