Trauma-informed communication for family-centered hospital rounds
Pilot testing a Trauma-Informed Clinician Communication Intervention for Family-Centered Rounds
This project teaches hospital clinicians trauma-informed communication skills to improve interactions with Black and Latino children (ages 0–11) and their caregivers during family-centered rounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261598 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Families and clinicians will co-develop a coaching program with iterative feedback from Black and Latino caregivers of hospitalized children. Ten pediatric clinicians will be randomized to receive the coaching immediately or be placed on a waitlist control, with clinicians in the intervention arm receiving hands-on communication coaching focused on collaboration, empowerment, and trustworthiness. The team will pilot the program in the inpatient pediatric setting to see if the coaching is practical to deliver, acceptable to clinicians and families, and shows early signs of improving communication and family experience. Results will inform whether a larger trial should be done.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are families of hospitalized children aged 0–11, particularly Black and Latino caregivers who take part in family-centered rounds at the study hospital.
Not a fit: Families of older children, people not hospitalized, or those receiving care at other hospitals are unlikely to benefit directly from this pilot.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the coaching could make hospital communication more collaborative and trustworthy for Black and Latino children and their caregivers, potentially reducing errors and improving hospital experiences.
How similar studies have performed: Some clinician communication trainings have improved interactions in other settings, but trauma-informed, relational neuroscience–based coaching in inpatient pediatrics is largely novel and supported mainly by preliminary work.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parente, Victoria — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Parente, Victoria
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.