Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in Syria
Background. Risks to the mental health of children and families exposed to conflict in Syria are of such magnitude that research identifying how best to deliver psychological first aid is urgently required. This study tested the feasibility of a novel appr...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425116000091/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156109169262592 |
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| author | A. El-Khani K. Cartwright A. Redmond R. Calam |
| author_facet | A. El-Khani K. Cartwright A. Redmond R. Calam |
| author_sort | A. El-Khani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background.
Risks to the mental health of children and families exposed to conflict in Syria are of such magnitude that research identifying how best to deliver psychological first aid is urgently required. This study tested the feasibility of a novel approach to large-scale distribution of information and data collection.
Methods.
Routine humanitarian deliveries of bread by a bakery run by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) were used to distribute parenting information leaflets and questionnaires to adults looking after children in conflict zones inside Syria. Study materials were emailed to a project worker in Turkey. Leaflets and questionnaires requesting feedback were transported alongside supplies to a bakery in Syria, and then packed with flatbreads. Three thousand bread-packs were distributed, from three distribution points to which questionnaires were returned, and then taken to Turkey and dispatched to the UK.
Findings.
Notwithstanding delays, 3000 leaflets and questionnaires were successfully distributed over 2 days. Questionnaire return yielded 1783 responses, a 59.5% return rate. Overall ratings of the usefulness of the leaflet were 1060 (59.5%) ‘quite a lot’ and 339 (19.0%) ‘a great deal’. Content analysis was used to code 400 respondent comments. Four themes emerged; positive comments about the leaflet, suggestions for modifications, descriptions of children's needs and the value respondents placed on faith.
Interpretation.
Findings indicate the willingness of NGO staff and volunteers to assist in research, the remarkable willingness of caregivers to respond and the value of brief advice. It demonstrates the scope for using existing humanitarian routes to distribute information and receive feedback even in high-risk settings.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:46:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5abe59bed5cc415a9a2de65c76dc3b52 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-4251 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:46:03Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-5abe59bed5cc415a9a2de65c76dc3b522023-03-09T12:35:35ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512016-01-01310.1017/gmh.2016.9Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in SyriaA. El-Khani0K. Cartwright1A. Redmond2R. Calam3The University of Manchester, Manchester, UKThe University of Manchester, Manchester, UKThe University of Manchester, Manchester, UKThe University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Background. Risks to the mental health of children and families exposed to conflict in Syria are of such magnitude that research identifying how best to deliver psychological first aid is urgently required. This study tested the feasibility of a novel approach to large-scale distribution of information and data collection. Methods. Routine humanitarian deliveries of bread by a bakery run by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) were used to distribute parenting information leaflets and questionnaires to adults looking after children in conflict zones inside Syria. Study materials were emailed to a project worker in Turkey. Leaflets and questionnaires requesting feedback were transported alongside supplies to a bakery in Syria, and then packed with flatbreads. Three thousand bread-packs were distributed, from three distribution points to which questionnaires were returned, and then taken to Turkey and dispatched to the UK. Findings. Notwithstanding delays, 3000 leaflets and questionnaires were successfully distributed over 2 days. Questionnaire return yielded 1783 responses, a 59.5% return rate. Overall ratings of the usefulness of the leaflet were 1060 (59.5%) ‘quite a lot’ and 339 (19.0%) ‘a great deal’. Content analysis was used to code 400 respondent comments. Four themes emerged; positive comments about the leaflet, suggestions for modifications, descriptions of children's needs and the value respondents placed on faith. Interpretation. Findings indicate the willingness of NGO staff and volunteers to assist in research, the remarkable willingness of caregivers to respond and the value of brief advice. It demonstrates the scope for using existing humanitarian routes to distribute information and receive feedback even in high-risk settings. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425116000091/type/journal_articleCaregiverconflictdisplacementinterventionsparenting supportrefugee |
| spellingShingle | A. El-Khani K. Cartwright A. Redmond R. Calam Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in Syria Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health Caregiver conflict displacement interventions parenting support refugee |
| title | Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in Syria |
| title_full | Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in Syria |
| title_fullStr | Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in Syria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in Syria |
| title_short | Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in Syria |
| title_sort | daily bread a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in syria |
| topic | Caregiver conflict displacement interventions parenting support refugee |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425116000091/type/journal_article |
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