Education Improves Emergency Department Providers' Knowledge of Human Trafficking

Abstract

The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) initiative was to implement a human trafficking (HT) education module for the emergency department (ED) staff and providers along with implementation of a policy and protocol for screening, identification, and referral of HT victims in the ED to increase provider knowledge of HT and ensure provider compliance with the HT protocol via documentation of red flags and screening questions in the electronic medical record along with social services referrals. The goal of the social services referral was to connect the HT victim with community resources that facilitated placement, food, and shelter in the event the trafficking victim accepted rescue. HT is a public health concern, globally, nationally, and at the state and local levels. ED providers, which include advanced practice registered nurses such as nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, are positioned to be able to identify and treat victims of HT. Therefore, HT victims are being seen and treated in EDs; however, health care providers are not recognizing them. Project design was a QI initiative, which utilized a convenience sample of ED providers. All ED providers and staff completed the HT Education module in Health Stream with pretest/posttest assessments via the PROTECT instrument, which evaluated ED staff/provider knowledge, perceived, actual, and confidence of HT, demographics, previous contact with HT victims, and participant preference for future HT training. HT Education resulted in improved knowledge of participants' perceived, actual, and confidence of HT as demonstrated by statistical significance from pretest to posttest scores; therefore, the HT educational training proved to be beneficial.