S. Speedy1, L. Tatebe1, B. Wondimu1, D. Kang1, F. Cosey-Gay2, M. Swaroop1 1Feinberg School Of Medicine – Northwestern University,Chicago, IL, USA 2University Of Chicago,Chicago, IL, USA
Introduction: Violent traumatic injury is a leading cause of death among people aged 1-44 years old. Violence disproportionately affects socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Increasing self-efficacy, an individual’s belief in his or her ability to achieve a goal, amongst community members in these neighborhoods reduces the rate of violence. Furthermore, bystanders are more likely to intervene and provide assistance to victims if they feel they possess the skills to provide aid. Our aim was to develop and validate a survey tool to assess lay persons’ self-efficacy to intervene and provide first aid to victims of traumatic injury.
Methods: An evidence-based trauma first responder’s course (TFRC), TRUE (Trauma Responders Unified to Empower) Communities, survey tool for measuring first aid self-efficacy among lay persons was constructed. It was developed using focus groups with community members, input from field experts, and Bandura’s self-efficacy scales development guide. The tool contained seven questions measuring self-efficacy and one personal safety question. Community members living in the south side of Chicago who participated in a 3-hour long TFRC completed the tool immediately following the course (n=459) and at 6-month follow up (n=46). Reliability testing using Spearman correlation was undertaken to examine internal consistency. Validation of the tool was conducted using Wilcoxon signed rank test and repeated measures mixed effects model.
Results: Spearman correlations between pre-course and immediate post-course surveys demonstrated a moderate magnitude of change for all seven self-efficacy survey questions (r = 0.35 to 0.41, p < 0.001). The signed rank test confirmed that all self-efficacy questions measuring willingness to intervene and empowerment were increased immediately following the course (p < 0.001). Repeated measures mixed effects model demonstrated there was a significant increase in all self-efficacy questions over the three time points (pre, post, and 6-month post course) when adjusted for age, gender, race, and course (p < 0.001). The one personal safety question measuring fear of self-injury while aiding victims was the only survey question not achieving statistical change immediately post course or at 6-month follow up.
Conclusions: The TFRC survey tool is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring bystander’s self-efficacy to provide first aid to trauma victims. Perception of personal safety may not necessarily be affected by educational interventions. The tool will be useful to researchers and educators interested in teaching bystanders how to provide first aid to victims of traumatic injury and for developing interventions to improve empowerment.