Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41425750›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in global women's health2025

Empowering women through trauma-informed maternity care: the EMPATHY framework.

Joanne Cull, Gill Thomson, Soo Downe, Anastasia Topalidou, Michelle Fine

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in global women's health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Joanne CullSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom.
Gill ThomsonSchool of Community Health and Midwifery, The University of Lancashire, Preston, England, United Kingdom.
Soo DowneSchool of Community Health and Midwifery, The University of Lancashire, Preston, England, United Kingdom.
Anastasia TopalidouSchool of Community Health and Midwifery, The University of Lancashire, Preston, England, United Kingdom.
Michelle FinePublic Science Project, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: At least one in four women in the UK has experienced trauma, such as sexual abuse or violence, with profound implications for mental and physical health, particularly during the perinatal period. Despite the potential benefits of addressing trauma in maternity care, many women are reluctant to disclose their experiences due to stigma, fear of judgment, or lack of trust in healthcare systems. This paper presents the development and evaluation of the EMPATHY framework, a novel, evidence-based approach to routine trauma discussions in maternity care, designed to address these challenges and promote emotionally-centred care. Methods: The EMPATHY framework was developed through a critical participatory action research approach, integrating findings from a systematic review, qualitative interviews, and stakeholder input, including experts by experience, healthcare professionals, and voluntary sector practitioners. The framework was refined through iterative workshops and a public consultation ( Results: The framework is structured around six core principles: system-wide change, promote trauma awareness, trust and relationships, training and support, local tailoring, and continuous improvement. A key innovation is the recommendation that all women, regardless of disclosure, should have access to information and support. Feedback from the public consultation highlighted the framework's value and its potential to transform perinatal experiences. Challenges such as resource constraints and implementation barriers were acknowledged, but respondents emphasised the importance of the framework in improving care for women who have experienced trauma. Discussion/conclusion: The EMPATHY framework addresses a critical gap in existing guidance by offering a structured yet flexible approach to routine trauma discussions. Its implementation has the potential to empower women, strengthen therapeutic relationships, and reduce re-traumatisation. The framework represents a significant step forward in trauma-informed perinatal care.

Indexed as

adverse childhood experience (ACE)maternity careparticipatory research (PR)patient empowermentperinatal mental healthtrauma-Informed care (TIC)

Identifiers

PMID41425750
PMCPMC12715818

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.