1. Research on Trauma Survivors
Ethical considerations
Dr. Marilyn Evans RN PhD
Dec 2, 2008

2. Tri-Council Policy Statement Ethical Conduct
Article 5.2
Women shall not automatically be excluded from research solely on the basis of sex or reproductive capacity

3. Assessment Risk-to-benefit ratio Trauma survivors -emotional distress
-too fragile
-less likely to be assertive

4. Pregnant women as research participants
Biologically vulnerable
Current trauma risks
Emotional changes

5. What we know
Findings suggest that trauma-focused research well tolerated by pregnant woman
(Schwerdtfeger & Nelson 2008)
Participation in trauma research well tolerated by trauma survivors
(Seedat,Pienaar,Williams,&Stein, 2004)
Grateful for opportunity to share their experiences
(Griffin,Resick,Waldrop, &Mechanic, 2003)

6. Embodied Trauma: Transition to Motherhood
Purpose
To examine how past trauma (interpersonal) impacts women during the transition to motherhood
Design
Grounded theory
Interviews (2nd trimester/4-6 m postpartum)

7. Interpersonal Trauma
Experiences involving disruption in trusted relationships as a result of violence, abuse, war or other forms of political oppression, or forced uprooting and dislocation from one’s family, community, heritage, and/or culture

8. Sample Purposive sampling 20-30 women total 3 study sub groups
sexual abuse survivors; refugee women;
Aboriginal women

9. Ethical Considerations
1-800 number
Ensure safety & privacy
Best practices

10. Thank You
Questions