Preparing residents to deal with human trafficking

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Human Trafficking Research

Background:

• Human trafficking (HT) victims face significant health issues and often interact with healthcare providers.
• Awareness and knowledge of HT among front-line physicians are critically low.
• There is a lack of data on integrating HT education into residency training programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of an online learning module in improving resident knowledge of human trafficking.
• To evaluate changes in self-reported and tested knowledge of HT among medical residents.
• To determine resident preparedness and comfort in identifying and supporting HT victims.

Main Methods:

• Residents from family medicine, emergency medicine, and general paediatrics participated.
• Knowledge was assessed using pre- and post-intervention surveys.
• An online learning module was delivered individually or in facilitated sessions.

Main Results:

• Baseline knowledge of HT red flags was low (16%), with limited prior education (6% in residency, 25% in medical school).
• Post-intervention, significant improvements were observed in self-reported (p < 0.001) and tested (p = 0.005) knowledge.
• Residents reported increased preparedness (p < 0.001), comfort (p < 0.001), and confidence (p < 0.001) in supporting victims.

Conclusions:

• Medical residents providing first-contact care demonstrate limited baseline knowledge of human trafficking.
• Residency programs should prioritize HT education to enhance physician competency in identifying and supporting victims.
• Online modules are effective, but protected time may be needed for broader implementation.