Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Offord Centre for Child Studies, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
BMJ Open. 2021 May 5;11(5):e049995. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049995.
Best practice approaches for addressing COVID-19-related psychological distress among young people (<25 years) and their families remain unclear. Psychological first aid (PFA) is promoted by public health authorities to provide psychological support in the context of extreme events; however, there is limited evidence for its effectiveness. As a prerequisite to conducting a randomised controlled trial to examine programme effectiveness, this project is evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of implementing and evaluating a PFA training programme ('LIVES for Families') for mental health (MH) practitioners to improve their ability to recognise and respond to COVID-19-related psychological distress among their clients.
We are using a triangulation mixed methods research design; complementary strands of quantitative and qualitative data are being collected in parallel and will be merged at the interpretation phase of the project. The quantitative strand uses a repeated measures design; a consecutive sample of MH practitioners (n=80) providing MH support to young people or their families are being recruited to participate in the LIVES for Families PFA training programme and complete quantitative measures at baseline (pretraining), 2-week and 6-month follow-up time points. The qualitative strand uses fundamental description and semistructured interviews with a subset of practitioners (n=30), as well as managers of MH agencies (n=20). A mixed methods joint display and associated narrative will generate a comprehensive understanding regarding acceptability and feasibility.
The Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board approved the study (project number: 11295). Results will be shared broadly with the policy and practice community through publications, presentations and public webinars. As a brief, evidence-informed intervention, the LIVES for Families PFA training programme is suitable in its mode of delivery across care settings. The outcomes of this study could have international implications for mitigating the MH impacts of viral pandemics.
针对 25 岁以下年轻人及其家庭的 COVID-19 相关心理困扰，最佳实践方法仍不明确。公共卫生部门提倡使用心理急救 (PFA) 在极端事件中提供心理支持；然而，其有效性的证据有限。作为一项旨在检验方案有效性的随机对照试验的前提，本项目正在评估为心理健康 (MH) 从业者实施和评估 PFA 培训计划（“LIVES for Families”）的可接受性和可行性，以提高他们识别和应对客户 COVID-19 相关心理困扰的能力。
我们采用三角混合方法研究设计；定量和定性数据的补充线索并行收集，并将在项目的解释阶段合并。定量线索使用重复测量设计；连续样本的 MH 从业者（n=80）为年轻人或其家人提供 MH 支持，正在招募他们参加 LIVES for Families PFA 培训计划，并在基线（培训前）、2 周和 6 个月随访时间点完成定量测量。定性线索使用基本描述和半结构化访谈，对从业者的一个子集（n=30）以及 MH 机构的管理人员（n=20）进行访谈。混合方法联合展示和相关叙述将产生关于可接受性和可行性的全面理解。
汉密尔顿综合研究伦理委员会批准了该研究（项目编号：11295）。结果将通过出版物、演讲和公共网络研讨会广泛分享给政策和实践界。作为一种简短的、基于证据的干预措施，LIVES for Families PFA 培训计划适合在其交付模式下在各个护理环境中使用。这项研究的结果可能对减轻病毒大流行对心理健康的影响具有国际意义。
