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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Sep 26;18(1):312.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-018-1888-3.

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

Nicola J Reavley  1 , Amy J Morgan  2 , Julie-Anne Fischer  2 , Betty Kitchener  3 , Nataly Bovopoulos  3 , Anthony F Jorm  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

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

Nicola J Reavley et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: 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).

Methods: A 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.

Results: Both 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.

Conclusions: The 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 registration: ACTRN12614000623695 registered on 13/06/2015 (prospectively registered).

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee (Ethics ID 1341345.2). Participants gave online consent to participate.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

AFJ and BK are the co-founders of MHFA training and Chair of the Board of MHFA International. NB is the current CEO of MHFA International. NJR and JF has no competing interests. AJM is currently acting as an Associate Editor for BMC Psychiatry.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CONSORT flow diagram for the study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Slade T, Johnston A, Oakley Browne MA, Andrews G, Whiteford H. 2007 National Survey of mental health and wellbeing: methods and key findings. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2009;43(7):594–605. doi: 10.1080/00048670902970882. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kitchener BA, Jorm AF, Kelly CM. mental health first aid international manual. Melbourne: Mental Health First Aid International; 2015.
    1. Kitchener BA, Jorm AF. Mental health first aid training for the public: evaluation of effects on knowledge, attitudes and helping behavior. BMC Psychiatry. 2002;2:10. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-2-10. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kitchener B, Jorm AF, Kelly C. Mental health first aid manual. 4. Mental Health First Aid Australia: Melbourne; 2017.

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