Purpose
Formulating and applying a comprehensive educational module aims to bridge the knowledge gap among healthcare professionals and raise awareness of human trafficking. An estimated 27.6 million people are victims of human trafficking worldwide. Survivors of human trafficking are often exploited and may have a range of health-related issues and may require services from healthcare professionals. However, many healthcare professionals may feel unequipped or insufficiently trained to identify the signs of trafficking and provide resources to those seeking care.
Methods
In collaboration with the University of Miami’s THRIVE clinic, medical students developed educational resources and compiled them as a module, delivered through the Canvas e-learning platform. This module includes an educational seminar, a trauma-informed physical exam guide, local and national resource links, and an optional 20-question quiz. Participants receive a certificate upon module completion. The module is available year-round, with regular reminders sent to encourage participation. Additionally, a clinical advisor and yearly selected student moderators ensure the module remains updated with current information.
Results
Currently, 194 medical students and 78 employees (faculty and staff) are enrolled in the course, with an average quiz score of 98%. Feedback from implementation surveys indicated enhanced participant confidence in identifying human trafficking survivors, knowledge of local resources available to survivors, and a greater understanding of the importance of human trafficking training.
Conclusion
The creation and implementation of this module are simple, beneficial, and cost-effective, with trackable progress in completion. Due to the module's optional nature, achieving a 100% completion rate can be challenging. The adoption of this module is highly feasible, and sustainable and fosters simultaneous multifaceted delivery of appropriate training for numerous healthcare professionals and can be implemented every academic year at different institutions.
