Purpose: Despite increasing public awareness of sex trafficking, provider education levels vary. This study investigates whether obstetric/gynecology residents perceive barriers to care for sex trafficking victims and aims to increase residents’ knowledge and confidence when caring for these patients.
Background: In 2017, 2400 U.S. sex trafficking cases were reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Sex trafficking victims experience adverse health outcomes (i.e. STI/STDs, pregnancy) commonly addressed by healthcare providers. A lack of formal training and awareness of sex trafficking are cited by providers as barriers to identify victims. Education programs targeting these barriers utilize diverse formats, yet much of the literature leaves out obstetric/gynecologists who may commonly see victims.
Methods: Obstetrics/gynecology residents voluntarily attended an evidence-based education session in-person or virtually. Participants received an anonymous electronic pre-session (n=32) and post-session (n=16) evaluation. Validated survey items were adapted from previous studies. Statistics were analyzed in Excel (p< 0.05).
Results: Session pre- and post-evaluations were linked (n=10) and demonstrated a statistically significant increase in knowledge (p< 0.05) and an increase in confidence to: identify and screen victims, identify indicated medical evaluation and treatment, provide resources, and discussion of the topic (p< 0.01). Reported barriers include lack of training (83.3%), lack of awareness (46.6%) and lack of organizational policy/guidelines (43.3%).
Discussions: Improvement in resident knowledge and confidence in caring for sex trafficking victims illustrates the utility of an education intervention - offered in-person or virtually. This program provides a framework in creating and evaluating sex trafficking education programs. Next steps include comparing program efficacy among family and emergency medicine residents.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2021, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Residency Director, Patient Care, GME, Lecture,
Morgan Briggs, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals; Kristina Kaljo, PhD
