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The Effect of a Simulated Fire Disaster Psychological First Aid Training Program on the Self-efficacy, Competence, and Knowledge of Mental Health Practitioners

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2020

Jung Suk Park
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Nursing and Health Professions, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
Yun-Jung Choi*
Affiliation:
Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Professor Yun-Jung Choi, Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974, South Korea (E-mail: yunjungchoi@cau.ac.kr).
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Abstract

Objective:

This study developed a simulation program using standardized patients for the training of mental health practitioners in psychological first aid and evaluated its effect on learners’ self-efficacy and psychological first aid performance competence and knowledge. The simulation used in this program was of a fire disaster.

Methods:

Thirty participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group, a comparison group, and a control group. The experimental group participated in simulation training after attending a two-hour psychological first aid lecture. The comparison group was given only the two-hour lecture and the control group was given a psychological first aid handout to study individually. The results of pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were then statistically analyzed.

Results:

The participants’ self-efficacy, performance competency, and knowledge improved in all groups, and there were some statistically significant differences between the three groups. The experimental group showed a greater improvement in self-efficacy and performance than the other groups.

Conclusions:

The psychological first aid simulation training program was effective in improving three qualities of mental health practitioners: self-efficacy, performance competency, and knowledge. Further research is required for the development of various learning scenarios for iterative psychological first aid education.

Information

Type
Original Research
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.
Figure 0

FIGURE 1Simulation Education Program Design for Psychological First Aid (PFA).

Figure 1

TABLE 1Simulation training program operation design (n = 10)

Figure 2

TABLE 2Homogeneity test of general characteristics and variables (n = 30)

Figure 3

TABLE 3Homogeneity verification (n = 30)

Figure 4

TABLE 4Difference verification (n = 30)