Effectiveness of eLearning and blended modes of delivery of Mental Health First Aid training in the workplace: randomised controlled trial

Nicola J Reavley,Amy J Morgan,Betty Kitchener,Anthony F Jorm,Nataly Bovopoulos,Julie-Anne Fischer

doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1888-3

Nicola J Reavley, Amy J Morgan + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1888-3

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Journal: BMC Psychiatry	Publication Date: Sep 26, 2018
Citations: 39	License type: open-access

Affiliation: University of Melbourne

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of the WorkplaceAid study was to compare the effects of eLearning or blended (eLearning plus face-to-face course delivery) Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses on public servants’ knowledge, stigmatising attitudes, confidence in providing support and intentions to provide support to a person with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).MethodsA randomized controlled trial was carried out with 608 Australian public servants. Participants were randomly assigned to complete an eLearning MHFA course, a blended MHFA course or Red Cross eLearning Provide First Aid (PFA) (the control). The effects of the interventions were evaluated using online questionnaires pre- and post-training. The questionnaires centred around vignettes describing a person meeting the criteria for depression or PTSD. Primary outcomes were mental health first aid knowledge and desire for social distance. Secondary outcomes were recognition of mental health problems, beliefs about treatment, helping intentions and confidence and personal stigma. Feedback on the usefulness of the courses was also collected.ResultsBoth the eLearning MHFA and blended MHFA courses had positive effects compared to PFA eLearning on mental health first aid knowledge, desire for social distance, beliefs about professional treatments, intentions and confidence in helping a person and personal stigma towards a person with depression or PTSD. There were very small non-significant differences between the eLearning MHFA and blended MHFA courses on these outcome measures. However, users were more likely to highly rate the blended MHFA course in terms of usefulness, amount learned and intentions to recommend the course to others.ConclusionsThe blended MHFA course was only minimally more effective than eLearning MHFA in improving knowledge and attitudes. However, course satisfaction ratings were higher from participants in the blended MHFA course, potentially leading to greater benefits in the future. Longer-term follow-up is needed to explore this.Trial registrationACTRN12614000623695 registered on 13/06/2015 (prospectively registered).

Highlights

IntroductionBecause of the high prevalence of mental disorders, members of the public are very likely to have contact with people with mental health problems (which includes those with diagnosed disorders or subclinical symptoms) and can play a valuable role in providing support [1, 2]
Because of the high prevalence of mental disorders, members of the public are very likely to have contact with people with mental health problems and can play a valuable role in providing support [1, 2]
Sample size estimation In order to calculate the required sample size, we considered the main hypothesis of interest to be the following: that blended Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training would be superior to MHFA eLearning in achieving improvements in MHFA knowledge and reductions in desire for social distance

Summary

Introduction

Because of the high prevalence of mental disorders, members of the public are very likely to have contact with people with mental health problems (which includes those with diagnosed disorders or subclinical symptoms) and can play a valuable role in providing support [1, 2]. It can be argued that the public need knowledge and skills to provide help to people with mental health problems. The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course teaching these skills was developed in Australia in 2000 [4]. It involves 12 hours of face-to-face instruction and gives an overview of the most common and disabling mental health problems, introduces a five-component action plan and applies these actions to help people with problems of depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis and substance use disorder as well as crisis situations including suicidal behaviours, panic attacks, traumatic events, aggressive behaviour, and drug overdose [5]. The aim of the WorkplaceAid study was to compare the effects of eLearning or blended (eLearning plus face-to-face course delivery) Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses on public servants’ knowledge, stigmatising attitudes, confidence in providing support and intentions to provide support to a person with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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