Evaluation of a brief training on mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies: a pre- and post-assessment in Nepal.
BACKGROUND
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.


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


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Department of Research and Development, HealthNet TPO, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. mark.jordans@hntpo.org
Mark J D
MJ
Jordans
Nagendra P
NP
Luitel
Bhava
B
Poudyal
Wietse A
WA
Tol
Ivan H
IH
Komproe
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009390:Nepal; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires