SRFP054: Human trafficking in Healthcare: Identifying primary care team knowledge and barriers to trauma-informed care

Samantha Mendoza Stanteen; Victoria Udezi, MD, MPH, MPH; Nida Ahmed

Abstract

Context: Human trafficking is a widespread issue that is hard to recognize. It has been estimated that over 300,000 people in Texas are victims of human trafficking. Studies have shown that 30-87% of victims had contact with a healthcare professional while they were being trafficked, yet no recognition or interventions took place. The implementation of trauma-informed care in the primary care setting is important because primary care clinicians may encounter human trafficking victims/survivors in their practice and need to know how to respond appropriately. Assessing the current understanding primary care clinicians have of trauma-informed care will help identify the barriers to recognizing and addressing the needs of human trafficking victims and survivors.

Objective: To identify gaps in primary care clinician knowledge of trauma-informed care.
Human subjects review: Quality improvement, non-regulated.

Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study utilizing results from a validated survey that measured the knowledge and attitudes participants had regarding trauma-informed care.

Setting: Primary care clinic in Dallas, Texas.

Participants: The survey was distributed to health care professionals in a primary care clinic

Results: The survey has been completed by 52% (n=14) of the participants. Preliminary findings show that a majority (57%) of participants were not knowledgeable about what trauma-informed care entails and did not feel comfortable in their ability to screen for and address trauma in patients. Seventy-one percent of participants indicated they received no training or resources on trauma-informed care. A third of the participants felt that there were clinic barriers to implementing trauma-informed care including time, expertise, and resources. Sixty-four percent of participants identified lack of training in trauma and patients’ non-communication as personal barriers to implementing trauma-informed care, and half identified lack of available resources.

Conclusions: The practice of trauma-informed care by health care clinicians is needed to identify and properly provide care to human trafficking victims and survivors. Preliminary findings support the need for trauma-informed care training and identify barriers faced by primary care clinicians.
Leave a Comment
Jack Westfall
jwestfall@aafp.org 11/21/2021

Terrific project. Great poster and abstract. Really like the central impact panel in the poster. Thanks for sharing at NAPCRG

Samantha Mendoza
samantha.mendosastanteen@utsouthwestern.edu 11/22/2021

Thanks for your feedback Dr. Westfall! 

Diane Harper
harperdi@med.umich.edu 11/22/2021

yes, yes yes yes Present your results in Phoenix next year! Thank you for sharing your work with NAPCRG!

Samantha Mendoza
samantha.mendosastanteen@utsouthwestern.edu 11/22/2021

Thank you Dr. Harper, I will definitely look forward to Phoenix next year!

Jessica Kram
11/22/2021

Great poster and a very important topic!!

Samantha Mendoza
samantha.mendosastanteen@utsouthwestern.edu 11/22/2021

Thanks so much! We appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the current practice of trauma-informed care and ways in which we can promote its adaptation in other clinics and specialties.

William R. Phillips
wphllps@uw.edu 11/23/2021

Thank you for your attractive, effective poster on this important topic. Is this study a baseline for further work after introducing a trauma informed care training program? Lack of training may be the most common Barrier but it may not be the most difficult bird overcome compared to resource and time constraints.

Samantha Mendoza
Samantha.MendozaStanteen@UTSouthwestern.edu 11/30/2021

Thank you! Yes this is a baseline study although it is not entirely focused on a training program at the moment. In a separate project prior to the study, a partnership was created between two community organizations to provide free healthcare services to human trafficking survivors. We wanted to make sure that care was delivered in a trauma informed manner, and the survey was used to identify what barriers and knowledge gaps existed. While we did use the results to guide a training session, our main focus was to get a better idea of the knowledge and attitudes healthcare professionals have of trauma-informed care. As this is an ongoing project, your feedback and ideas are very appreciated! I definitely agree with you, resources and time constraints will be challenging to address. I will keep this in mind as this project unfolds. Thanks again for your feedback and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have other specific questions/comments!

Alison Huffstetler
alison.huffstetler@vcuhealth.org 11/23/2021

I'd be interested in seeing the full results (and maybe more responses!) next year. I wonder if any form of teaching trauma-informed care would be most effective for this group? Another question to think about moving forward.

Samantha Mendoza
Samantha.MendozaStanteen@UTSouthwestern.edu 11/30/2021

Absolutely! Yes that's a good question to consider, thank you for your feedback!

Andy Pasternak
avpiv711@sbcglobal.net 11/28/2021

This is a topic that I think most primary care docs don't have adequate training in (I know I don't). Great work

Samantha Mendoza
Samantha.MendozaStanteen@UTSouthwestern.edu 11/30/2021

Due to the number of participants, we combined the survey results of all clinic staff but you make an interesting point. As the project proceeds, we will consider focusing specifically on primary care physicians. Thank you!

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