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15-Jul-2026
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Arch Hellen Med, 43(6), November-December 2026, 820-827 ORIGINAL PAPER Nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards human trafficking I. Moisoglou,1 E. Koukia,2 P. Mangoulia,2 A. Katsiroumpa,3 P. Galanis3 |
OBJECTIVE To investigate nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards human trafficking.
METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample. Data collection took place in Greece in May 2024. The sample included nurses working in intensive care units. The PROTECT scale (Provider Responses, Treatment and Care for Trafficked People) was employed for data collection.
RESULTS In our sample, 6.7% reported having received training on human trafficking, 8.9% reported training on violence against women, and 7.8% reported training on communication/contact with vulnerable migrants. In addition, 13.3% stated that they had encountered a patient whom they knew or suspected to be a victim of human trafficking. We found a very low level of self-assessed knowledge, a moderate level of knowledge about human trafficking, a moderate level of knowledge of symptoms, and low confidence among nurses in their ability to respond to a human trafficking incident. Nurses who had received training on human trafficking reported higher levels of perceived knowledge regarding human trafficking. Also, nurses who had received training on violence against women reported higher levels of perceived knowledge regarding human trafficking and nurses who had received training on communication and interaction with vulnerable migrants reported higher levels of perceived knowledge regarding human trafficking. Younger nurses, those who had received training on communication with vulnerable migrants, and those who had encountered a patient known or suspected to be a victim of human trafficking demonstrated higher levels of objectively assessed knowledge on human trafficking. Nurses who had received training on violence against women, as well as those who had been trained in communication and interaction with vulnerable migrants reported greater self-confidence in their ability to effectively respond to incidents of human trafficking.
CONCLUSIONS The study highlighted the need for implementing educational interventions aimed at enhancing nurses' knowledge and skills in recognizing victims of human trafficking.
Key words: Attitudes, Greece, Human trafficking, Knowledge, Nurses.
