Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the impact of psychological first aid training on the perception of disaster preparedness and self-efficacy.
Methodology: This study is an experimental randomized control study design with monitoring measurement. The study was carried out with a total of 76 nursing students including 38 in the intervention group and 38 in the control group. The data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Disaster Preparedness Perception Scale for Nurses and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSS). Sessions of Psychological First Aid training that lasted 60 min were carried out with the students in the experiment group once a week along 6 weeks. The statistical analysis on the data involved descriptive statistical methods (means, standard deviations, frequencies), Mann Whitney U test, Spearman Correlation, Friedman and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests.
Findings: It was found that the mean scores of the intervention group under all sub-dimensions of the disaster preparedness perception scale for nurses (preparation phase, intervention phase, and post-disaster phase) increased significantly after the training and in follow-ups, and these were significantly higher than the mean scores of those in the control group. It was determined that the mean post-training and follow-up general self-efficacy scores of the intervention group increased significantly, and these were significantly higher than the mean scores of those in the control group.
Conclusion: It was determined that psychological first aid education positively affected the subject's perception for disaster preparation as well as their perception of general self-efficacy. In line with this conclusion, as per this study it is suggested to provide training that includes psychological first aid training module in undergraduate nursing programs.
Keywords: Disaster preparedness; Nursing; Psychological first aid; Self-efficacy.
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