Nurses’ role in post-trauma prevention among refugee populations: a literature review
Koivu, Eevi; Jepkosgei, Jesca (2025)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121536488
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121536488
Tiivistelmä
Globally, there has been a massive rise in forced migration. Refugees have a high prevalence of de-pression, anxiety, and especially PTSD. This is due to trauma experienced before and during displace-ment, as well as post-migration difficulties. In both primary care and medical centers, nurses are fre-quently the first medical professionals to interact with refugees. As such, they are crucial in the early detection, prevention, and culturally sensitive treatment of PTSD symptoms among migrants.
The purpose of this study was to systematically analyze and synthesize existing research on nursing interventions that help prevent PTSD in immigrants from refugee backgrounds. It aimed to identify and evaluate the methods currently used in nursing care for refugees experiencing PTSD.
A literature review was conducted with data extracted from CINAHL and PubMed databases. Seven articles were reviewed and analyzed using the inductive content analysis approach.
Four main themes were identified: early identification, access to psychological interventions, patient education and coping skills, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care.
In conclusion, nurses play an essential role in the primary prevention of PTSD by screening patients regularly. Culturally sensitive psychosocial support, peer groups, and trauma-informed interventions offered by nurses are also used to enhance coping and decrease stressors. Further studies could be done on what nurses can do to prevent and treat PTSD in refugee populations.
The purpose of this study was to systematically analyze and synthesize existing research on nursing interventions that help prevent PTSD in immigrants from refugee backgrounds. It aimed to identify and evaluate the methods currently used in nursing care for refugees experiencing PTSD.
A literature review was conducted with data extracted from CINAHL and PubMed databases. Seven articles were reviewed and analyzed using the inductive content analysis approach.
Four main themes were identified: early identification, access to psychological interventions, patient education and coping skills, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care.
In conclusion, nurses play an essential role in the primary prevention of PTSD by screening patients regularly. Culturally sensitive psychosocial support, peer groups, and trauma-informed interventions offered by nurses are also used to enhance coping and decrease stressors. Further studies could be done on what nurses can do to prevent and treat PTSD in refugee populations.