Closing the Gap: Health care workers may experience traumatic events in the workplace. This study sought to discover if health care workers use tobacco and alcohol after traumatic experiences. 

Promoting Positive Patient Outcomes: A first step in providing health care workers with needed support is identifying their coping mechanisms for trauma. Seeking positive outlets for trauma will lead to increased personal health and greater ability of health care workers to effectively deliver care to patients. 

Optimizing Resources: Our low-cost survey showed that there is a relationship between trauma and risky tobacco and alcohol use among health care workers. It is important to be aware of these relationships and to identify those most at risk and provide support when a health care worker experiences a traumatic event.