Practice Problem
Human trafficking is a worldwide phenomenon to which no country is immune. Victims of modern-day slavery are exploited in every region of the world, forced to work or provide paid sexual services in real-life production environments and on the Internet. The enormous scale of the issue requires world leaders to develop unified, comprehensive responses to a crime that violates all borders. Despite its global prevalence, human trafficking occurs at the local level, and the knowledge of medical professionals is insufficient to prevent its devastating effects (Parchment & Stinson, 2020). Local populations face the realities of modern-day slavery, including a weakened rule of law, an overburdened public health system, and declining economic development, while traffickers profit from exploitation. The traumatic impacts trafficked victims experience are often complex and multiple and can take a long time. For numerous victims, the abuse or other traumatic events may begin long before the actual trafficking process starts. It all indicates specific patient characteristics that require precise and unique interventions.
At the same time, every healthcare professional must comprehend the causes and consequences of human trafficking and determine how they can affect their work as a professional. It is a severe and widespread concern that negatively affects all social groups. Its magnitude compels medical organizations to develop different ways and methods of treating patients with these traumatic experiences. Unique courses and techniques are being developed, as well as strategies for working with such patients. Nevertheless, the level of awareness remains relatively low, as numerous nurses cannot provide the necessary care to the patient. Thus, the issue of insufficient awareness among healthcare professionals is becoming a pressing concern that needs to be addressed immediately.
PICO Question
Would an educational program on sex trafficking beyond the ED increase knowledge of how to care for victims?
Literature Evidence
Research reveals that medical workers believe their counterparts in destination nations often exaggerate available services and assistance. Literature furthermore shows that healthcare providers’ understanding of what it takes to care for a trafficked person is shallow. Numerous trafficked victims reject help because they are unable or unwilling to accept the form of care they are offered (Berishaj et al., 2019). Sometimes this is because the assistance program does not cover the specific needs. In other cases, the rejection may be related to how assistance is organized (Parchment & Stinson, 2020). All of this points to problems in shaping treatment strategies and the need for increased awareness of the specifics of the traumatic experience and the nature of its course.
Practice Changes
Victims need clear, understandable, and realistic information about the various options for help. It makes a strong case for providing registered materials. At the same time, it is necessary to change the training program for healthcare providers to enhance their skills and awareness. The Iowa model will be implemented for health professionals can improve their knowledge of the nature and scope of the problem.
Implementation/Pilot
Introducing a multi-component and comprehensive training program is the first prerequisite for awareness-raising. Its content includes the specific behaviors of trafficked victims and provides opportunities to shape new treatment approaches. The primary method of the training is for workers to be able to identify and address specific problems of victims – thereby confirming that assistance is accurate and effective.
Outcomes
The introduction of the training raised healthcare providers’ awareness about the nature and approach to treating trafficking victims. Assistance to victims of trafficking is less stigmatizing when provided in a comprehensive policy, with more of a social services effort to assist based on social vulnerability rather than being a victim of trafficking. This approach proves successful and attracts the attention of victims who might not otherwise accept help. Factors such as financial need, local opportunities, family relationships, and obligations exacerbate and shape the circumstances in which individuals find themselves are considered. The form of assistance and how it is offered takes into account the everyday life and the obligations of the victims of trafficking when they return. Therefore, training is an effective option to increase the health workers’ knowledge and the level of assistance they provide.