Evaluation of interdisciplinary child exploitation training for children’s nursing students

BACKGROUND: Child exploitation is a significant safeguarding concern and nurses have a crucial role in recognising and responding to it. Therefore, it is essential that children's nursing students are equipped with the knowledge, confidence and preparedness to recognise and act on safeguarding concerns. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a police-led child exploitation awareness training session in enhancing children's nursing students' knowledge, confidence and application of safeguarding principles in practice. METHOD: A mixed-methods study design was used. Second-year children's nursing students ( n =35) attended a three-hour police-led child exploitation awareness training session. Quantitative data were collected via a pre-training ( n =35) and post-training ( n =30) questionnaire and analysed to assess changes in three domains: knowledge and confidence; attitudes and beliefs; and willingness to act. Qualitative data were collected through follow-up forms that explored participants' ( n =8) reflections on application of their learning in their practice placements and analysed using content analysis. FINDINGS: Significant improvements were identified across all three domains, with the greatest increases in participants' confidence and escalation of concerns. Qualitative findings indicated that the participants developed enhanced professional curiosity and increased willingness to act in safeguarding situations, suggesting the effective translation of learning into practice. CONCLUSION: Practice-oriented, interdisciplinary safeguarding education can improve children's nursing students' knowledge, confidence and behavioural readiness. Such interventions may enhance nurses' ability to recognise and respond to instances of child exploitation, thereby strengthening safeguarding practice.