Medical students often encounter sensitive topics during their education, such as domestic violence and mental health issues, which can lead to re-traumatization. To address this, a trauma-informed medical education (TIME) approach aims to create a supportive learning environment and enhance students’ resilience for future patient interactions. A qualitative study involving 16 final-year medical students from Monash University, Australia, used semi-structured interviews to explore perceptions of TIME and effective teaching methods.

The study identified a central theme of creating a “Safe Space” for learning sensitive topics. This theme included three sub-themes: Preparedness for Teaching, Teaching Techniques, and Debriefing. Students noted that many TIME strategies were already implemented in their education, affirming their effectiveness in fostering psychological safety and well-being among medical students. The research underscores the importance of trauma-informed approaches in medical training to better prepare students for handling distressing patient encounters.