Dissemination of PTSD Treatment Evidence to Refugee Health Providers and Refugee Communities

Nearly one in 10 resettled refugee adults suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Effective PTSD treatment for refugee adults is critical not only to individual patients but also for families, as there is robust evidence that untreated PTSD among refugee parents has profound adverse impacts on child health, behavior, and development. Evidence on effective PTSD treatment for refugees is cited in PCORI’s 2018 systematic literature review. However, the review does not offer an executive summary describing the evidence specifically for refugees, nor does it include guidance on how to sensitively present these treatment options to refugee patients with language barriers and culturally specific health beliefs. To address this gap, we will summarize PCORI’s PTSD treatment evidence with a focus on studies conducted among refugee populations; contract with bilingual, bicultural refugee community leaders and interpreters to create a multilingual lexicon of nonstigmatizing PTSD-related terms in four languages spoken by large refugee communities in Pennsylvania (Arabic, Karen, Nepali, and Swahili); and disseminate materials to clinicians, interpreters, and refugee community leaders. The Pennsylvania Refugee Program will lead dissemination in the state by sharing materials during extant quarterly meetings and site visits. National dissemination will leverage The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia’s existing relationships with national organizations focused on refugee and immigrant health.