Uptake and effects of psychological first aid training for healthcare workers’ wellbeing in nursing homes: A UK national survey
Open Access
- 3 November 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 17 (11), e0277062
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277062
Abstract
Psychological First Aid is a brief intervention based on international guidance from the World Health Organisation. Free to access online training in the intervention was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK. We aimed to determine the uptake of Psychological First Aid training among healthcare workers in care homes in the UK and to assess its effects on their wellbeing. This was a sequential mixed methods design. Healthcare workers (nurses and carers) working in care homes in the UK were surveyed about their uptake of Psychological First Aid, their stress, coping efficacy and the key concepts of Psychological First Aid (safety, calmness, hopefulness, connectedness, and accomplishment). Those that completed the Psychological First Aid training were asked to share their experiences via qualitative survey. Data collection was conducted between June and October 2021. Analyses included descriptive statistics and regression analysis. A six step thematic analysis was used to interpret the qualitative data. 388 participants responded to the survey. The uptake of Psychological First Aid training was 37 (9.5%). Psychological first aid was a significant predictor for coping efficacy (β = 17.54, p = .001). Participants with a physical or mental health condition experienced higher stress and lower coping regardless of PFA training. Four themes were identified from the qualitative analysis: self-awareness and growth, relationships with others, overcoming stress and accessibility. While this study suggests some benefits to healthcare workers in care home settings undergoing PFA the poor uptake of the training warrants further investigation. Care home staff need psychological support. This gap remains as few completed PFA training. This is the first study in UK and worldwide to look at the effects of psychological first aid on stress and coping in this population and it warrants further investigation.Keywords
Funding Information
- Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Foundation
This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Workplace violence in different settings and among various health professionals in an Italian general hospital: a cross-sectional studyPsychology Research and Behavior Management, 2016
- The Potential Efficacy of Psychological First Aid on Self-Reported Anxiety and MoodJournal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 2016
- Dysfunctional psychological responses among Intensive Care Unit nurses: a systematic review of the literatureRevista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 2015
- A Systematic Literature Search on Psychological First Aid: Lack of Evidence to Develop GuidelinesPLOS ONE, 2014
- The Effectiveness of Psychological First Aid as a Disaster Intervention Tool: Research Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Literature From 1990-2010Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 2012
- Innovations in disaster mental health: Psychological first aid.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 2008
- A validity and reliability study of the coping self‐efficacy scaleBritish Journal of Health Psychology, 2006
- Using thematic analysis in psychologyQualitative Research in Psychology, 2006
- A Global Measure of Perceived StressJournal of Health and Social Behavior, 1983
- A COURSE IN PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID AND PREVENTIONAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, 1945