Citation

Hadjikyriakou M, Martinez-Sosa N, Harvey PD, Potter JNE, Johnson L, Kenny MC, Alhajji L. J. Health Care Poor Underserved 2023; 34(3): 989-1002.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Johns Hopkins University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

38015133

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human trafficking involves coerced labor or sex. THRIVE, a multidisciplinary University of Miami clinic for trafficked persons, transitioned to a hybrid telehealth model during the COVID-19 pandemic. Th is paper presents appointment data across THRIVE clinic services during this transition.

METHODS: A review of appointments for THRIVE patients (n=156) was conducted to compare pre-pandemic (February 2019 to February 2020) and pandemic (March 2020 to December 2021) appointment trends.

RESULTS: There were 15% more scheduled (n=51.1 versus n=44) and 8% more completed (n=30.2 versus n=27.9) appointments per month early in the pandemic period with telehealth use compared to the pre-pandemic period. Telehealth was most used within psychiatry. Rescheduled and no-show appointments per month significantly increased during the pandemic period (p=0.010 in pandemic period 1 and and p=0.028 in pandemic period 2). There were few significant differences in appointment trends according to demographic variables.

CONCLUSION: Telehealth succeeded in connecting THRIVE patients during the pandemic, highlighting its potential for long-term use amongst trafficked persons.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Pandemics; *COVID-19/epidemiology; *Human Trafficking; *Telemedicine; Ambulatory Care Facilities