Educating Healthcare Professionals to Identify and Care for Victims of Human Trafficking

Background: Health Care Professionals (HCPs) report a need for education, training, and appropriate healthcare guidelines to identify and treat those affected by human trafficking. Approximately 88% of survivors report having been in contact with an HCPs while being trafficked without the knowledge or intervention of an HCP. Population: 16 staff from a Federally Qualified Health Center in rural in East Tennessee, including medical and dental staff, mental health counselors and receptionists attending onsite training. Methods: A pretest-posttest-4 week follow up posttest design was utilized to determine whether an educational intervention increased knowledge and confidence in HCPs. A modified PROTECT Provider Responses, Treatment and Care for Trafficked People survey was administered to evaluate pre and post-test knowledge and confidence. Findings, conclusions & implications: Repeated measures ANOVA results showed a significant increase (p