Coordinator research program Disasters and Environmental Hazards; endowed professor 'Crises, safety and health', University of Groningen, the Netherlands
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Measuring and modelling the quality of 40 post-disaster mental health and psychosocial support programmes
Dückers, M.L.A., Thormar, S.B., Juen, B., Ajdukovic, D., Newlove, L., Olff, M. Measuring and modelling the quality of 40 post-disaster mental health and psychosocial support programmes PLoS One: 2018, 13(2), e0193285
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Background
Disasters can have an enormous impact on the health and well-being of those affected. Internationally governments and service providers are often challenged to address complex psychosocial problems. Ideally, the potentially broad range of support activities include a coherent, high-quality mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programme. We present a theory-driven quantitative analysis of the quality of 40 MHPSS programmes, mostly implemented in European disaster settings.
Objective
The objective is to measure quality domains recognized as relevant in the literature and to empirically test associations.
Methods
the EU project ªOperationalizing Psychosocial Support in Crisisº (OPSIC) an evaluation survey was designed and developed for this purpose and completed by 40 MHPSS programme coordinators involved in different mass emergencies and disasters.
We analysed the survey data in two steps:
Firstly, we used the data to operationalize quality domains of a MHPSS programme, tested constructs and assessed their internal consistency reliability. A total of 26 out of 44 survey items clustered into three of the four domains identified within the theoretical framework: ªplanning and delivery systemº (Cronbach's alpha 0.82); ªgeneral evaluation criteriaº (Cronbach's alpha 0.82); and ªessential psychosocial principlesº (Cronbach's alpha 0.75). ªMeasures and interventions appliedº, theoretically a potential fourth domain, could not be confirmed to empirically cluster together. Secondly, several models with associations between domains and measures and interventions were tested and compared.
The model with the best fit suggests that in MHPSS programmes with a higher planning and delivery systems score, a larger number of measures and interventions from evidence informed guidelines are applied. In such programmes, coordinators are more positive about general evaluation criteria and the realization of essential psychosocial principles.
Results
Moreover, the analyses showed that some measures and interventions are more likely to be applied in programmes with more evolved planning and delivery systems, yet for most measures and interventions the likelihood of being applied is not linked to planning and delivery system status, nor to coordinator perceptions concerning psychosocial principles and evaluation criteria.
Conclusion
Further research is necessary to validate and expand the findings and to learn more about success factors and obstacles for MHPSS programme implementation.
Disasters can have an enormous impact on the health and well-being of those affected. Internationally governments and service providers are often challenged to address complex psychosocial problems. Ideally, the potentially broad range of support activities include a coherent, high-quality mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programme. We present a theory-driven quantitative analysis of the quality of 40 MHPSS programmes, mostly implemented in European disaster settings.
Objective
The objective is to measure quality domains recognized as relevant in the literature and to empirically test associations.
Methods
the EU project ªOperationalizing Psychosocial Support in Crisisº (OPSIC) an evaluation survey was designed and developed for this purpose and completed by 40 MHPSS programme coordinators involved in different mass emergencies and disasters.
We analysed the survey data in two steps:
Firstly, we used the data to operationalize quality domains of a MHPSS programme, tested constructs and assessed their internal consistency reliability. A total of 26 out of 44 survey items clustered into three of the four domains identified within the theoretical framework: ªplanning and delivery systemº (Cronbach's alpha 0.82); ªgeneral evaluation criteriaº (Cronbach's alpha 0.82); and ªessential psychosocial principlesº (Cronbach's alpha 0.75). ªMeasures and interventions appliedº, theoretically a potential fourth domain, could not be confirmed to empirically cluster together. Secondly, several models with associations between domains and measures and interventions were tested and compared.
The model with the best fit suggests that in MHPSS programmes with a higher planning and delivery systems score, a larger number of measures and interventions from evidence informed guidelines are applied. In such programmes, coordinators are more positive about general evaluation criteria and the realization of essential psychosocial principles.
Results
Moreover, the analyses showed that some measures and interventions are more likely to be applied in programmes with more evolved planning and delivery systems, yet for most measures and interventions the likelihood of being applied is not linked to planning and delivery system status, nor to coordinator perceptions concerning psychosocial principles and evaluation criteria.
Conclusion
Further research is necessary to validate and expand the findings and to learn more about success factors and obstacles for MHPSS programme implementation.