Evaluating the effectiveness of psychological first aid training for disaster nursing: a mixed-method study

Psychological first aid (PFA) training significantly improves appropriate psychosocial response and PFA skills in supporting people in acute distress, thus increasing self-efficacy and promoting resilience. Nevertheless, nurses' perceptions of disaster preparedness are not at the desired level. More studies are needed to increase the knowledge, skills and preparedness of nurses for better disaster preparedness and management in disaster situations.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of psychological first aid training on nursing students' perception of self-efficacy in disaster intervention and disaster preparedness.

This mixed-method study was conducted in a nursing school in Türkiye. The sample consisted of 62 fourth-year nursing students during the fall semester of 2023. Thirty-two nursing students in the intervention group participated in psychological first aid training. The control group consisted of 30 nursing students who did not participate in the training. Data were collected with the Descriptive Information Form, Metaphor Determination Form on Psychological First Aid, Preparedness Perception Scale of Disaster in Nurses, and Disaster Response Self-Efficacy Scale. Independent samples t test and dependent samples t test were used to compare scale scores. Metaphor analysis was used in qualitative data analysis.

The mean age differed significantly between groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed regarding gender, disaster exposure, or willingness to work in disaster areas (p > 0.05). Total self-efficacy level in disaster response, on-site rescue competency subscale, disaster psychological nursing competency subscale, and disaster role quality and adaptation competency subscale scores showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.05). Total perception of disaster preparedness and after the disaster stage subscale scores showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.05). Four categories were obtained in the metaphor analysis: need-related, help-related, growth and development-related, and struggle-related.

The study findings indicate that disaster nursing education significantly enhances nursing students' self-efficacy in disaster response and their perception of disaster preparedness. Integrating disaster preparedness and psychological first aid (PFA) into nursing curricula can better equip students for disaster response.