The Secret History Project : : cultural adaptation of an experiential training method aiming at improved empathic engagement and self-care for midwives and nurses in obstetric care

Abstract: Empathic care is highly relevant for optimal health outcomes. Especially in obstetric care, abusive treatment (e.g. neglect during labour, non-consented procedures or verbal abuse) is reported over all global regions and income levels and restricts womens’ right to deliver in a dignified and respectful environment as demanded by the WHO. Researchers suggest a connection between disrespectful care and unfavorable working conditions in combination with lack of self-care on the side of health care staff.
The Secret History training is an empathy- and self-care-promoting training for obstetric carers which was developed in South Africa to improve both patient and employee satisfaction. This thesis describes and analyses the cultural adaptation of the Secret History training from the global South to the global North and the pilot testing in the setting of Freiburg medical university clinic. A preliminary investigation and systematic literature review revealed a demand for and a lack of comparable training formats. Based on a five-step model of cultural adaptation, the Secret History training was successfully adapted to the Freiburg cultural setting. A train-the-trainer workshop and local pilot trials revealed a high level of acceptance and applicability for Freiburg carers’ every-day working experience. Additionally, most participants reported higher empathic abilities and a higher sensitivity for own feelings in difficult situations after receiving the Secret History training. Especially the focus on the carers’ own needs and feelings and on their own contribution to difficulties in interpersonal interaction were considered novel and promising for Freiburg health care staff.
Secret History is hence recommended as a resource-gentle but effective intervention to promote empathic care and self-care of staff in obstetrics and possibly in other medical and social fields

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Universität Freiburg, Dissertation, 2018

Classification and Topics

• Keyword: Training ; History ; Midwives ; Betrothal ; Nurses ; Krankenpflege ; Geburtshilfe ; Hebamme

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2019
• Creator: Hänselmann, Eva
• Contributor: Wirsching, Michael ; Niebling, Wilhelm ; Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. Medizinische Fakultät

Further information

• DOI: 10.6094/UNIFR/149372
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-1493722
• Rights: Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 11:02 AM CEST