Are Older Adults Prepared to Respond to Disasters? Psychological First Aid on Dignity-Related Distress, Social Frailty, and Psychological Resilience

NCT06787703 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 106-C
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The rapid increase in the global aging population has drawn attention to the unique challenges faced by institutionalized elders. These individuals often contend with various forms of psychosocial stress, including dignity-related distress, social frailty, and reduced psychological resilience. Dignity-related distress, characterized by feelings of worthlessness or loss of respect, significantly impacts mental health and quality of life among older adults, especially those in long-term care facilities. Similarly, social frailty-marked by diminished social networks and weakened interpersonal interactions-further exacerbates their vulnerability to loneliness and mental health disorders. Enhancing psychological resilience, or the capacity to adapt to adversity, is therefore critical to improving their overall well-being. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a structured intervention designed to provide immediate support and foster adaptive coping strategies during crises. While PFA has been widely implemented in disaster and emergency contexts, its application in addressing the psychosocial needs of institutionalized elders remains underexplored. Given its focus on promoting safety, comfort, and connectedness, PFA may hold potential for mitigating dignity-related distress, strengthening social bonds, and enhancing psychological resilience among this vulnerable population. This study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of PFA in alleviating dignity-related distress, reducing social frailty, and bolstering psychological resilience among institutionalized elders. By addressing these intertwined psychosocial factors, the research aims to contribute to the growing body of evidence on interventions tailored to the unique needs of older adults in care settings

Conditions

Elderly; Psychological Adaptation; First Aid; Stress; Psychological Stress

Keywords

Older Adults; Disaster; Psychological; First Aid; Dignity-Related Distress; Psychosocial Frailty; Psychological Resilience; Institutionalized Elders.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Psychological Resilience Evaluation Scale

  The Resilience Evaluation Scale (RES) consists of 9 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (completely disagree) to 4 (completely agree). Participants assess the extent to which they agree with statements about how they "typically respond to challenging situations." the scale's original authors identified a two-factor structure: self-efficacy, which includes items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 (subscale range: 0-24), and self-confidence, comprising items 1, 7, and 9 (subscale range: 0-12).

  at baseline assessment before the start of the program and at 3 months immediately after the completion of the study

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Patient Dignity Inventory

  at baseline assessment before the start of the program and at 3 months immediately after the completion of the study

• Social Frailty Index (SFI)

  at baseline assessment before the start of the program and at 3 months immediately after the completion of the study

Study Arms (2)

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

standard care

Psychological First Aid Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Psychological First Aid Intervention

Behavioral: Psychological First Aid Intervention

Interventions

Psychological First Aid Intervention BEHAVIORAL

Psychological first aid is a compassionate and supportive presence designed to mitigate acute distress and asses the need for continued mental health care. The intervention aims to enhance the compassionate presence, assist with needs and promote adaptive functioning. The intervention encompasses seven main themes (RAPID model, emotion stabilization, self-compassion, reframing, instillation of hope and empowerment) that will be covered through a series of five training exercises conducted on 6 sessions. Each session ranged in duration from 30 to 45 minutes. The program going along the RAPID PFA model, that represents a simple structure of (R for: establishing rapport and reflective listening, A: assessment, P: prioritization, I: intervention and D: disposition). The program going along the RAPID PFA model, that represents a simple structure of (R for: establishing rapport and reflective listening, A: assessment, P: prioritization, I: intervention and D: disposition). The

Psychological First Aid Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 60 years or older.
• Recently retired, within a maximum of one month from job cessation.
• Capable of meaningful and clear communication.
• Provide signed informed consent to participate.

You may not qualify if:

• Participation in psychological treatments
• Inability to complete assigned homework
• Unwillingness to continue studying
• Logistical challenges such as poor internet connectivity during online sessions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead
• Damanhour University: collaborator
• Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University: collaborator
• Alexandria University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Almogama and Dar Alsada assisted living facilities

Damanhur, Damanhur, Egypt

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: NO masking
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer, Faulty of Nursing

Model Details: Psychological first aid is a compassionate and supportive presence designed to mitigate acute distress and asses the need for continued mental health care. The intervention aims to enhance the compassionate presence, assist with needs and promote adaptive functioning. The intervention encompasses seven main themes (RAPID model, emotion stabilization, self-compassion, reframing, instillation of hope and empowerment) that will be covered through a series of five training exercises conducted on 6 sessions. Each session ranged in duration from 30 to 45 minutes.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 16, 2025
• First Posted: January 22, 2025
• Study Start: December 3, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 30, 2025
• Study Completion: March 30, 2025
• Last Updated: July 14, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

EG (1)