Date of Award

January 2024

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Chelsey R. Carter

Second Advisor

Karen H. Wang

Abstract

Background: Trauma exposure is a pervasive issue around the world and the impacts of trauma can be long lasting and detrimental to individual and population health outcomes. Trauma responses can influence and determine an individual or community’s approach in seeking supportive resources. Given the critical role of supportive resources and the prevalent use of technology and internet use, it is essential to understand how digital health interventions contribute to addressing trauma explicitly. This scoping review aims to explore the landscape of trauma-informed digital health interventions for adults, assess their outcomes, and identify their measurable impacts across various settings.Methods: A scoping review was conducted, guided by objectives to map out the current landscape of trauma-informed digital health interventions. The review protocol adhered to PRISMA-ScR guidelines and involved a comprehensive search across multiple databases. Inclusion criteria focused on studies utilizing the phrase ‘trauma-informed’ in digital interventions published from 2012 to 2023. A total of 10,807 articles were screened, resulting in 12 studies being selected for inclusion. Results: The findings reveal a predominance of interventions targeting interpersonal trauma and utilizing primarily behavioral approaches, with most studies employing platforms through telecommunication and the internet. Notably, only a fraction of studies provided a clear definition of 'trauma-informed,' and outcome measures varied widely. Discussion: While all studies state a trauma-informed approach, few adhere to a standardized definition, which complicates their ability to be compared and replicated. A third of the studies highlighted the complexities of trauma highlighting overlapping and emphasizing the need for multi-pronged strategies to address. The predominance of such studies in the U.S. suggests an opportunity for expanded research and resource allocation to address trauma globally. Conclusions: Given the widespread use of technology today, it is critical to balance its potential harms and benefits, especially when used with vulnerable populations. The development of trauma-informed digital health interventions represents a growing area of opportunity for innovative collaborations across multiple disciplines. Funding: This scoping review was supported by initiatives reflecting an ongoing need to integrate trauma-informed principles in technology-supported interactions, particularly for marginalized populations. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Library of Medicine, through a Diversity Supplement grant (3R01LM013477-03S2). The funding agency had no role in the design, analysis, or interpretation of the data in the study.

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