Bridging the Gap: Human Trafficking Education Improves Nursing Students' Knowledge and Confidence

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing Education
• Human Trafficking Research

Background:

• Human trafficking (HT) is a significant public health issue, but victims are frequently missed due to inadequate provider training and screening.
• Limited education on recognizing red flags and utilizing screening tools hinders the identification of human trafficking victims.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of an online, asynchronous human trafficking education module for senior nursing students.
• To enhance nursing students' knowledge and confidence in identifying human trafficking victims.

Main Methods:

• An asynchronous online module covering HT indicators, screening tools, and resources was implemented.
• The PROTECT instrument was used for pre- and post-intervention assessments of knowledge and confidence.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements in knowledge and confidence were observed post-intervention (p < .001).
• A majority of participants (52%) preferred online, asynchronous learning, and only 10.67% had prior HT training.

Conclusions:

• Human trafficking education effectively enhances nursing students' knowledge and confidence.
• Integrating HT training into undergraduate nursing curricula is recommended to improve victim identification and care.