title: Psychological first aid: a consensus-derived, empirically supported, competency-based training model.
abstract: Surges in demand for professional mental health services occasioned by disasters represent a major public health challenge. To build response capacity, numerous psychological first aid (PFA) training models for professional and lay audiences have been developed that, although often concurring on broad intervention aims, have not systematically addressed pedagogical elements necessary for optimal learning or teaching. We describe a competency-based model of PFA training developed under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association of Schools of Public Health. We explain the approach used for developing and refining the competency set and summarize the observable knowledge, skills, and attitudes underlying the 6 core competency domains. We discuss the strategies for model dissemination, validation, and adoption in professional and lay communities.
authors.affiliation: O. Lee McCabe, George S. Everly Jr, and Jonathan M. Links are with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Lisa M. Brown is with the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa. Aaron M. Wendelboe and Vicki L. Tallchief are with the College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City. Nor Hashidah Abd Hamid is with the College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
authors.forename: O Lee
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: George S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Everly
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Aaron M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wendelboe
authors.forename: Nor Hashidah
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Abd Hamid
authors.forename: Vicki L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Tallchief
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Links
mesh_terms: D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000379:methods*; D032921:Consensus; D004190:Disasters; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D004630:Emergencies / Q000523:psychology; D005392:First Aid / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D012648:Self Care; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods