Psychological first aid intervention: rescue from psychological distress and improving the pre-licensure nursing students' resilience amidst COVID-19 crisis and beyond

Resilience enhancement interventions for disaster rescue workers: a systematic review

Resilience is defined as the ability of individuals to adapt to stress and adversity. In recent years, the concept of resilience in the context of disaster, particularly that of disaster rescue workers, has received considerable attention from academic researchers, disaster response organizations, and policymakers involved in disaster management. This systematic review aimed to identify interventions designed to enhance the resilience of disaster rescue workers. A systematic search was conducted from inception to January 31, 2024, in ten electronic databases: ISI Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PILOTS, PsycInfo, and the CNKI. A manual search of the reference lists of the included articles and an author search were conducted to identify additional relevant literature. A total of 22 studies that aimed to enhance resilience among disaster rescue workers were included in this review. These interventions focused on resilience-related knowledge and skills, stress and energy management, coping strategies, mindfulness, and psychological first aid. The duration of these interventions ranged from 1 to 24 h within 8 weeks, with sessions conducted in-person or online in group formats. Individual resilience, coping, social support, mindfulness, and burnout improvements were reported. The most common types of interventions were psychoeducation, followed by mindfulness-based training. However, the methodological quality of these interventions was generally sub-optimal. A well-designed intervention study is needed to enhance the resilience of disaster rescue workers.

Effectiveness of mental health first aid as a supportive tactic on resilience and organisational environment-related factors among hospital nurses in the wake of COVID-19: the search continues

Background

The implementation of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) has been shown to effectively prevent long-term psychological effects of trauma. Additionally, it aids nurses in stabilising their emotional state and facilitates their practical recovery.

Aim

To investigate the effect of MHFA on resilience capacity, organisational commitment, job insecurity and turnover among nurses working in the COVID-19 isolation units.

Methods

Sixty nurses in COVID-19 isolation units participated in a quasi-experimental two-group, pre-post-test research. Nurses with low resilience capacity due to the COVID-19 crisis in Egypt completed a baseline survey. The study group employed MHFA strategies using the RAPID model. At the same time, standard psychological care was provided to the control group.

Results

A statistically significant improvement in resilience and organisational commitments mean scores among the study group (62.50 ± 19.33, 21.67 ± 9.66, respectively) post-intervention. Besides, a significant decline in the study group's job insecurity and turnover intention mean scores (8.90 ± 2.32, 8.70 ± 2.34, respectively) after the MHFA intervention.

Conclusion

Implementing MHFA enhances nurses' ability to withstand the challenges of COVID-19, significantly boosting their resilience. Additionally, it positively impacts their organisational commitment, reducing both job insecurity and turnover intention.

Resilience of nursing students: A concept analysis study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify attributes of resilience among nursing students.

DESIGN

The concept analysis method was used.

DATA SOURCES

Literature reviews from the past 10 years were searched in Science Direct, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, and the Wiley online library. The literature search database and review period were determined after verification of validity by five experts (nursing professors). The inclusion criteria for the literature review were that the paper must be written in English, and the abstract or title of the paper should have included attributes of nursing students' resilience. Exclusion criteria were papers written in languages other than English, papers that did not include the attributes of resilience of nursing students, and duplicate papers. Seventeen studies were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

Resilience among nursing students comprised three attributes and 28 sub-attributes. The three attributes were individual, educational, and situational. Individual attributes included personal competency characteristics (e.g., self-confidence and self-efficacy) and consisted of 15 sub-attributes. Educational attributes included characteristics related to academic and clinical practicum (e.g., coping with academic work pressure) and consisted of seven sub-attributes. Situational attributes comprised characteristics that changed according to circumstances (e.g., coping with increased levels of patient acuity during the crisis), such as the COVID-19 pandemic and social support from significant others, and consisted of six sub-attributes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified resilience attributes reflecting the characteristics of nursing students and recent situational changes. Consequently, tools to assess resilience should be developed based on study findings and utilized in various studies aimed at enhancing the resilience of nursing students.

The feasibility of a psychological first aid intervention as a supportive tactic for feelings of psychological distress and mental health recovery outcomes among earthquake survivors in Northern Syria

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of implementing a psychological first aid intervention for psychological distress, resilience capacity, quality and meaning of life among survivors affected by earthquake adversity in Northern Syria.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental, pre-posttest, two-group research design was utilized. A convenience sample of 95 survivors (46 in the study group and 49 in the control group) was recruited for the psychological First Aid intervention at a 1:1 ratio. The psychological first aid intervention was delivered in 10 sessions, twice weekly, followed by 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

A statistically significant improvement in the mean scores of resilience capacity, quality and meaning of life among survivors, along with a significant reduction in psychological distress, was registered among the study group compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

Our work verified the suitability of implementing psychological first aid following the catastrophic temblors which struck Northern Syria. Given that the psychological first aid intervention is grounded in psychological safety, cognitive reframing, mobilization of social support and installation of hope, the feasibility of its path following public health emergency, traumatic events or even a personal crisis can be favourable.

Family intimacy and adaptability and non-suicidal self-injury: a mediation analysis

BACKGROUND

Current research has been focusing on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors among adolescents with depression. Although family intimacy and adaptability are considered protective factors for NSSI, evidence supporting this relationship is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the mechanisms operating in the relationship between family intimacy and adaptability and NSSI behaviors among adolescents.

METHODS

A self-administered general demographic information questionnaire, the Behavioral Functional Assessment Scale for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, the Family Intimacy and Adaptability Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Self-Assessment of Depression Scale were distributed among adolescents with depression in three tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province.

RESULTS

The relationship between family intimacy and adaptability and NSSI was assessed among 596 adolescents with depression. The results revealed the following: (1) Family intimacy and adaptability were negatively correlated with NSSI behavior. (2) Psychological resilience and depression levels acted as chain mediators in the relationship between family intimacy and adaptability and NSSI behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhancing psychological resilience, controlling depressive symptoms, and reducing depression severity among adolescents by improving their family intimacy and adaptability are conducive to preventing and mitigating their NSSI behaviors.

Psychological first aid practice self-efficacy of nurses in disasters

In the present cross-sectional study, we determined the self-efficacy of nurses to apply psychological first aid (PFA) during disasters. The study sample consisted of 580 nurses working in Turkey. The data were collected online between July and November 2022 using the "Personal Information Form" and the "PFA Application Self-Efficacy Scale." The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods (number, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), generalized linear models, Bonferroni correction, and linear regression analysis. The mean PFA scale scores of male nurses, nurses working in intensive care units, working as service nurses, nurses who have previously received PFA training and applied PFA in disaster situations were higher. Moreover, 91.3% of nurses did not receive PFA training and 90.3% did not receive PFA service earlier, 31.0% did not apply for PFA, 18.3% did not know about PFA. The mean score of the PFA practice self-efficacy scale of nurses was 131.61 ± 19.41. There exists an urgent requirement to develop nurses' PFA application self-efficacy. It is recommended that nurses should be provided repeated PFA training and applied studies focusing on PFA interventions.

Association Between Ego-Resilience and Social Isolation Among Urban Older People

Social isolation among older adults affects their physical and mental health. Ego-resilience is associated with flexible adaptation to various environments and acceptable behaviors. However, its association with social isolation among older people is unclear. Therefore, a health survey was conducted with 510 adults aged 65 years or older to assess social isolation, its associated factors, and ego resilience. The results showed that the social isolation group had a lower median ego-resiliency scale score (42.0) compared to the non-social isolation group (38.0). The social isolation group were mostly males without spouses, took time to move, had more depressive moods, and poorer subjective health status. The non-social isolated group had faster maximum walking speed. Low ego-resilience was newly identified as a factor associated with social isolation among older people, as were being male, having no spouse, and depressive symptoms. Mediation analysis revealed that ego-resilience affected social isolation and was partially mediated by depressive symptoms.

Urban residents' self-rescue in response to public health emergencies in China: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

The abject uncertainty and unpredictability of public health emergencies have plagued various countries. Global health governance and international communities are facing long-term and arduous challenges. The self-rescue ability of individuals in a public emergency may be the most powerful trait to improve the survival rate outside the hospital. The study explores the cognitive ability and attitudes of urban residents in China towards self-rescue in response to public health emergencies. It provides appropriate evidence for improving the self-rescue ability of urban residents in China.

METHODS

Sixteen urban residents were selected using the purposive sampling method for semi-structured interviews. Theme analysis was used to collate and analyse the interview data.

RESULTS

Two themes and five sub-themes were analysed. The two themes included cognition and attitude of Chinese urban residents for self-rescue in an emergency. Urban residents believed that their knowledge and skills for self-rescue in an emergency were low. The ability for emergency self-rescue is affected by multiple factors, with relatively limited options for improvement. Nonetheless, the respondents expressed a desire to accept interventions under psychological crisis and a strong willingness to acquire knowledge and skills required for emergency self-rescue.

CONCLUSION

This study investigated the perceptions and attitudes of Chinese urban residents towards emergency self-rescue. The results support enhanced ability of urban residents to respond to public health emergencies, thereby diminishing the negative outcomes. The findings suggest the need for strategies to address the factors affecting emergency self-rescue.