Disseminating early interventions for disaster mental health response using the ECHO model

J Community Psychol. 2023 Jul;51(5):2213-2228. doi: 10.1002/jcop.23023. Epub 2023 Mar 4.

Abstract

Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO)-based telementoring was evaluated for disseminating early disaster interventions, Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR), to school professionals throughout rural, disaster-affected communities further affected by COVID-19. PFA and SPR complemented their Multitiered System of Support: PFA complemented tier 1 (universal) and SPR tier 2 (targeted) prevention. We evaluated the outcomes of a pretraining webinar (164 participants, January 2021) and four-part PFA training (84 participants, June 2021) and SPR training (59 participants, July 2021) across five levels of Moore's continuing medical education evaluation framework: (1) participation, (2) satisfaction, (3) learning, (4) competence, and (5) performance, using pre-, post-, and 1-month follow-up surveys. Positive training outcomes were observed across all five levels, with high participation and satisfaction throughout, and high use at the 1-month follow-up. ECHO-based telementoring may successfully engage and train community providers in these underused early disaster response models. Recommendations regarding training format and using evaluation to improve training are provided.

Keywords: ECHO model; Multitiered System of Support; disaster mental health; dissemination; prevention; telementoring; trauma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Disasters*
  • Humans
  • Learning
  • Mental Health
  • Surveys and Questionnaires