The Effect of Psychological First Aid Training on Knowledge and Understanding about Psychosocial Support Principles:...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Disaster Mental Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Psychological first aid (PFA) is a globally recognized intervention for individuals affected by emergencies and disasters.
• Controlled evaluations of PFA training effectiveness, particularly regarding knowledge and skill retention, are limited.
• Post-Ebola Sierra Leone presented a critical context to assess PFA training in a resource-limited humanitarian setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a one-day PFA training program on knowledge acquisition and retention.
• To assess the impact of PFA training on skills in responding to individuals experiencing acute adversity.
• To examine secondary outcomes including professional quality of life, confidence, and professional attitude.

Main Methods:

• A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) in Sierra Leone.
• Participants were randomized to either PFA training or a control group.
• Knowledge, skills (via patient scenarios), confidence, attitude, and quality of life were assessed at baseline, immediately post-training, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.

Main Results:

• The PFA group demonstrated significantly greater increases in PFA knowledge and understanding immediately post-training and at 6-month follow-up.
• Participants in the PFA group showed improved skills in responding to patient scenarios at the 6-month follow-up, but not immediately post-training.
• No significant differences were observed between groups for professional attitude, confidence, or professional quality of life.

Conclusions:

• PFA training effectively enhances the acquisition and retention of knowledge and skills for providing psychosocial support in acute adversity.
• The findings support the implementation of PFA training to build capacity for psychosocial support in disaster and humanitarian crisis contexts.
• Further research is recommended to investigate the impact of PFA training on the psychosocial outcomes of crisis-affected populations.