Implementation of a screening tool for child sex trafficking among youth presenting to the emergency department - A quality improvement initiative.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Identification of sex-trafficked youth in the emergency department (ED) is difficult and routine screening is uncommon.

Objectives

Our Quality Improvement (QI) Project aimed to increase ED screening and identification of high-risk youth using the Short Screen for Child Sex Trafficking (SSCST).

Participants

Youth (11 through 17 years) seeking care at two metropolitan EDs with a high-risk chief complaint triggering a best practice alert (BPA).

Methods

A BPA prompted administration of the SSCST and referral of screen 'positive' youth for comprehensive evaluation for child sex trafficking by the forensic nurse examiner (FNE). Targeted QI interventions defined three study periods (SP). Outcomes measures included screening 50% of high-risk youth with 50% o

SUBMITTER: Peterson LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8862543 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature