Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39036779›Full record

ArticleJournal of human trafficking2024

Overcoming Digital Exclusion during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact of Mobile Technology for Survivors of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking - A Mixed Method Study of Survivors and Support Service Provider Views.

Alice Malpass, Kate Garbers, Lauren Saunders, Jeremy Horwood, Hugh McLeod, Eric Anderson, Michelle Farr

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of human trafficking, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Digital exclusion in healthcare services: a scoping review.International journal for equity in health · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Alice MalpassThe National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6329-4304
Kate GarbersUnseen, Bristol, UK.
Lauren SaundersUnseen, Bristol, UK.
Jeremy HorwoodThe National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7092-4960
Hugh McLeodThe National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2266-7303
Eric AndersonBT Group PLC (Former Role).
Michelle FarrThe National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8773-846X

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This collaborative, qualitative study aimed to understand the impact that smartphone technology can have for survivors of human trafficking and slavery in relation to their mental health, well-being and social connections, access to services and levels of independence and isolation. The pilot project was conceived shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic by anti-slavery charity Unseen and the telecommunications company BT, in recognition of the potential of smartphone technology to enhance survivors' recovery from trauma. BT donated smartphones and SIM cards with 6-month call and data packages that Unseen distributed to survivors they were supporting. Seventy-four survivors received a smartphone; 27 survivors were interviewed and 12 Unseen staff completed a free-text survey exploring perceptions of the intervention. A well-being capability measure (ICECAP-A) was conducted with survivors at the start and end of the project. Researchers analyzed all data, triangulating across data sources. Analysis showed support staff play a key role in the success of the intervention to increase digital inclusion. Smartphones helped survivors develop skills to assist them in their move toward independent living and navigate the systems and services in their environment. The intervention was highly valuable to survivors for support, integration and access to services. Our findings suggest that suitable technology packages should be assessed for inclusion as standard support for survivors of modern slavery within the UK Government's National Referral Mechanism (NRM). Achieving this change in NRM policy will go some way to realize the United Nations 2030 Agenda, specifically SDG 3 (Good health and wellbeing for all at all ages), SDG 8 (Decent Work-inclusive and sustained economic growth) and SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions-inclusive societies and access to justice for all).

Indexed as

Digital inclusionsmartphone technologysurvivors of human trafficking and slavery

Identifiers

PMID39036779
PMCPMC11256988

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.