A Survivor-Derived Approach to Addressing Trafficking in the Pediatric ED

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Public Health
• Social Work

Background:

• Child trafficking is a critical public health issue.
• Pediatric emergency departments (EDs) are potential settings for identification and intervention.
• Survivor perspectives are crucial for developing effective strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather insights from child trafficking survivors on how to address trafficking in pediatric EDs.
• To create a framework for pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) providers to discuss trafficking with patients.

Main Methods:

• Conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews with young adults trafficked as children/adolescents.
• Utilized a novel video-elicitation method for detailed feedback and recommendations.
• Employed a grounded theory approach to analyze interview data.

Main Results:

• Seventeen interviews identified key themes for a PEM provider framework.
• Fear is a significant barrier; survivors want providers to ask about trafficking.
• Providers should emphasize confidentiality, privacy, and patient agency.
• Direct, sensitive, and nonjudgmental communication is recommended.
• Modifications to the ED environment can facilitate conversations.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric EDs can be safe spaces for discussing trafficking when privacy is ensured.
• PEM providers can mitigate fear by emphasizing confidentiality and agency.
• A direct, sensitive, and nonjudgmental approach is vital for discussing child trafficking.