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Evaluation of a Brief Training on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies: A Pre- and Post-Assessment in Nepal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2012

Mark J.D. Jordans ,
Nagendra P. Luitel ,
Bhava Poudyal ,
Wietse A. Tol  and
Ivan H. Komproe
Mark J.D. Jordans*
Affiliation:
Department of Research and Development, HealthNet TPO, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Research Section, Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal, Nepal
Nagendra P. Luitel
Affiliation:
Research Section, Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal, Nepal
Bhava Poudyal
Affiliation:
Research Section, Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal, Nepal
Wietse A. Tol
Affiliation:
Department of Research and Development, HealthNet TPO, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Research Section, Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal, Nepal
Ivan H. Komproe
Affiliation:
Department of Research and Development, HealthNet TPO, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Utrecht University, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands
*
Correspondence: Mark J.D. Jordans, PhD HealthNet TPO Tolstraat 127 1024 VJ Amsterdam The Netherlands E-mail mark.jordans@hntpo.org
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Abstract

Introduction

A principal strategy for the integration of mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings is the training of front-line workers in international consensus-based guidelines.

Aim

This paper presents a pilot study evaluating changes in knowledge and understanding as a result of a brief training course in Nepal.

Method

Evaluation questionnaires were distributed to participants in two-day courses (n = 109) before, directly after, and at two months following completion.

Results

The course resulted in a post-training increase in correct answers of 21%, which further increased to 25% at two months.

Conclusion

A short training course based on widely endorsed guidelines to front-line staff can significantly increase mental health literacy for complex emergencies. While promising, the trend of knowledge gain is modest at most, and suggests a need for more intensive or more targeted training courses.

Jordans MJD, Luitel NP, Poudyal B, Tol WA, Komproe IH. Evaluation of a brief training on mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies: a pre- and post-assessment in Nepal. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(3):1-4.

Keywords

disasteremergencyevaluationmental healthNepalpreparednesspsychosocialtraining
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , June 2012 , pp. 235 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

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