Enhancing Confidence in Evidence-Based Trauma Care and Implementation Research: Training Program for Clinicians in...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychotraumatology
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Millions in Ukraine exposed to war trauma, risking high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Critical shortage of mental health professionals trained in evidence-based care (EBC) and implementation research in Ukraine.
• Urgent need to bolster mental health support systems amidst ongoing conflict.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a comprehensive training program on Ukrainian clinicians' confidence in delivering EBC for PTSD.
• To evaluate changes in clinicians' confidence regarding the conduct of implementation research.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to implementing EBC and research in the Ukrainian context.

Main Methods:

• A five-day training workshop was conducted in Lviv, Ukraine, for 41 mental health professionals.
• Participants completed pre- and post-training surveys measuring confidence in EBC and implementation research.
• Data analysis included Wilcoxon Signed-rank tests, multiple regression, and thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in confidence were observed in both implementing EBC for trauma and conducting implementation research.
• Training effectiveness was consistent across different professional backgrounds and experience levels.
• Thematic analysis revealed specific barriers to EBC and research implementation.

Conclusions:

• The training program successfully enhanced clinicians' confidence in critical mental health skills.
• Addressing identified barriers is crucial for adapting EBC in Ukraine's unique context.
• The training model offers a foundation for building a sustainable mental health workforce to manage trauma burden.