Pediatric Approach to Trauma, Treatment, and Resilience (PATTeR) for Trainees: A Standardized Trauma-Informed Care Training for Pediatric Residents

Introduction: Despite increasing recognition of the importance of trauma-informed care (TIC), pediatric trainees often lack structured opportunities to develop and practice trauma-responsive communication skills. We developed and implemented a standardized training program to improve pediatric residents' TIC knowledge, confidence, and communication skills. Methods: In collaboration with content experts, we developed the Pediatric Approach to Trauma, Treatment, and Resilience (PATTeR) for Trainees curriculum, implemented during the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics rotation. The training included a 2-hour didactic session co-led by a pediatric faculty member and a clinical psychologist, along with 2 standardized patient (SP) encounters conducted before and after the didactic session. SP scenarios reflected common pediatric developmental and behavioral encounters in the context of trauma. Residents completed retrospective pre- and posttraining self-assessments of TIC knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). During SP encounters, residents were evaluated by faculty, SPs, and themselves using a validated TIC communication skills assessment tool. Results: < .05). Discussion: The PATTeR for Trainees curriculum led to measurable gains in knowledge and skills and offers a scalable model for integrating TIC into pediatric residency education. Future directions include multicenter implementation and real-world performance assessment.