Disaster Healthcare Workers’ Experience of Using the Psychological First Aid Mobile App During Disaster Simulation Training

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to examine the experience of disaster healthcare workers with simulation training using the Psychological First Aid (PFA) mobile app. Methods: This study was designed using qualitative research methodology with focus group interviews. The participants were 19 disaster healthcare workers from community mental health service centers who attended disaster simulation training in flood, fire, or leakage of hazardous chemicals. Before the simulation, participants were provided the PFA mobile app and allowed to practice the PFA techniques to apply them during the simulation. Data were collected through focus group interviews and qualitatively analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: The findings were divided into 6 categories: experience in realistic disaster situations, satisfaction with education methods using a mobile app, effectiveness of the PFA app in disaster relief, confidence in disaster relief by integrating experience and knowledge of the PFA app, self-reflection as a disaster healthcare worker, and identifying limitations and making developmental suggestions. Conclusions: Based on the participants’ developmental proposals in this study, the disaster simulation training, incorporating improvements in the disaster simulation training and the PFA app features, will serve as a new framework for disaster support education and systematic mental health services to survivors by disaster healthcare workers.

Effectiveness of a Fire Disaster PFA Simulation Game: A Single-Blinded Trial

“…Disaster response core competencies significantly increased in the experimental group immediately after training and 1 week later, and these increases were significantly greater than those of the control group. This result is consistent with the demonstrated effectiveness of extant PFA simulation training programs for disaster situations developed by Choi 11 and Ko. 20 However, in these previous studies, only a pretest and 1 posttest were administered, whereas in this study there was a second posttest 1 week after the training, data from which demonstrated the continued effectiveness of the program.…”

“…10 Aid workers practicing PFA assist victims in disaster situations by providing psychological support and connecting them to necessary resources. 11 With the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014 and the Pohang earthquake in 2017, many first responders had not received training in PFA and therefore lacked an understanding of the psychological problems of victims and their families under such circumstances. 12 As the frequency and scale of disasters gradually increase and society becomes more complex, there is a need to develop PFA training programs that are easy for disaster relief workers to learn and free from time and space constraints.…”

“…15 The effectiveness of these web-based simulation training programs has been studied in acute care nursing, 16 respiratory care, 17 depression screening, 18 and physical education such as CPR training. 19 Programs have been developed for various physical education topics, but the scope of PFA education is limited in Korea, as the only identified web-based PFA programs center on earthquake disasters 11 and infectious diseases. 20 As the curriculum should be implemented based on the characteristics of PFA performed in special situations such as disasters, content that is not realistic and tangible may decrease learners' curiosity and participation.…”

Overlapping Science in Radiation and Sulfur Mustard Exposures of Skin and Lung: Consideration of Models, Mechanisms, Organ Systems, and Medical Countermeasures: Overlapping science in radiation and sulfur mustard injuries to lung and skin

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] There have also been more than 50 manuscripts (as of this writing) published in the journal since 2007, which covered global radiation emergency preparedness, radiation scenario modeling, and other areas of interest. [23][24][25][26][27] Similarly, the journal has reported on findings and discussions surrounding hazardous chemical materials, including but not limited to reports on preparedness, 28,29 training exercises, 30 case studies, 31,32 and review articles. 33,34 For these reasons, the meeting organizers began working with the journal at the very beginning of the process, leading to the publication of this meeting report and the special issue in which it resides.…”

“…The vapor SM indication was pursued as a non-inferiority study (silver sulfadiazine as comparator) against superficial and moderate partial-thickness wounds in Göttingen minipigs. Results of the study were used to support the eventual FDA clearance of Silverlon dressings in July 2019 30 as the first MCM indicated to manage SMinduced vesicant injuries not requiring skin grafting. 31 Ongoing efforts are geared toward obtaining similar FDA approval of Silverlon dressings as a radiation MCM.…”