Coping strategies and stressors of nursing students in the care of sex trafficking victims.

ABSTRACT

During their clinical practice, nursing students face a number of complex clinical situations, which may include treating victims of sex trafficking. These clinical experiences can lead to stress for the nursing students, which may hinder their learning process. Nonetheless, there is very little educational training provided in nursing programmes on this topic. The objective of this study was to identify the coping strategies and stressors perceived by nursing students in the care of sex trafficking victims. A pre-post study of a single group was carried out. The TREND guidelines were followed. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Coping Behavior Inventory (CBI) were used for data collection. On the PSS, the average scores were lower after the intervention in all dimensions, except related to teachers and nursing staff and peers and daily life. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing the results of the total average score of the PSS and the time of measurement (pre/post-intervention) (t(106) = 38.811; P < 0.001). Regarding the Coping Behavior Inventory, the average scores in each dimension increased after the intervention, except transference behaviours. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing the total average score of the questionnaire and the time of measurement (Z = -13.357; P < 0.001). The total stress levels and coping strategies of nursing students in caring for victims of sex trafficking improved significantly after the intervention. Nursing educators should promote the training of future nursing professionals as a potential effective strategy for the rapid identification and adequate care of sex trafficking victims.