Nurses’ Awareness Regarding Human Trafficking

Abstract

Problem: A review of the literature indicated that human trafficking is a worldwide problem and not all nurses in the healthcare setting were adequately trained to identify and care for human trafficking victims.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to further explore nurses’ awareness regarding human trafficking.

Method: This quantitative, cross-sectional, non-experimental study with a descriptive design, studied the issue by administering a survey to nurses actively working in the field. The theoretical framework of forced labor and Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory were used to guide the study. The data were collected using SurveyMonkey®, an Internet-based confidential data-collection tool. The survey contained eight demographic questions and sixteen Likert-type statements. The researchers obtained personal email addresses and used Facebook contacts to send out the survey initially. In this study, a Snowball sampling was used to obtain nurse participants.

Results: A total of 166 responses were received from nurses across the United States. The results confirmed that there is a lack of awareness among nurses about human trafficking. An increase in both training and education amongst nurses could increase the number of victims, which go unnoticed, being saved or provided with assistance. Nurses also must be more self-aware about the patients they are encountering and be more observant of signs that look suspicious. The most agreed upon statement by participants was that counseling should be available to people who are affected by human trafficking (M = 3.75, SD = 0.48).