• Marizen Ramirez, Maisha Toussaint, Briana Woods-Jaeger, Karisa Harland, Kristel Wetjen, Tammy Wilgenbusch, Graeme Pitcher, and Charles Jennissen.
• From the *University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health; †Department of Community Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health; ‡Department of Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; §Department of Pediatric Psychology, University of Iowa Children's Hospital; and ∥Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA.
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2017 Aug 1; 33 (8): 532-537.

ObjectiveInjury, the most common type of pediatric trauma, can lead to a number of adverse psychosocial outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder. Currently, few evidence-based parent programs exist to support children hospitalized after a traumatic injury. Using methods in evaluation and intervention research, we completed a formative research study to develop a new program of psychological first aid, Link for Injured Kids, aimed to educate parents in supporting their children after a severe traumatic injury.MethodsUsing qualitative methods, we held focus groups with parents and pediatric trauma providers of children hospitalized at a Level I Children's Hospital because of an injury in 2012. We asked focus group participants to describe reactions to trauma and review drafts of our intervention materials.ResultsHealth professionals and caregivers reported a broad spectrum of emotional responses by their children or patients; however, difficulties were experienced during recovery at home and upon returning to school. All parents and health professionals recommended that interventions be offered to parents either in the emergency department or close to discharge among admissions.ConclusionsResults from this study strongly indicate a need for posttrauma interventions, particularly in rural settings, to support families of children to address the psychosocial outcomes in the aftermath of an injury. Findings presented here describe the process of intervention development that responds to the needs of an affected population.

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