Psychological First Aid and Its Impact on Self-Efficacy: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an early intervention designed to support individuals in coping with traumatic events, such as pandemics and natural disasters. While widely recognized in disaster management, evidence of its effectiveness in enhancing self-efficacy—particularly among healthcare workers and responders in high-stress scenarios—remains limited. This scoping review evaluates the effectiveness of PFA in improving self-efficacy among healthcare workers, nursing students, and disaster responders.

Methods: Studies included in this review employed experimental or quasi-experimental designs with self-efficacy as the primary outcome. Eligible articles were published in English between 2014 and 2024. A systematic search was conducted in November 2024 across PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley, and Google Scholar.

Results: Five studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs. Findings indicate that PFA significantly enhances self-efficacy, disaster preparedness, communication skills, and professional competence. Simulation-based training—particularly virtual and hybrid formats—emerged as the most effective approach for delivering PFA interventions.

Conclusion: This review highlights the critical role of PFA in strengthening the resilience of healthcare workers and disaster responders. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term impacts of PFA and to optimize delivery methods for diverse populations and settings.