A Study to Assess the Knowledge on Psychological First Aid among Youth Red Cross Volunteers in Selected Educational Institutes of Sonitpur District , Assam

Disasters, conflicts, health problem and any other emergency situations have severe psychosocial consequences. Psychosocial support should be an integral part of any emergency  management. It helps individuals and communities to heal the psychological wounds and to  cope up with the distress caused by the crisis situation. Youth red cross volunteers of Red Cross  and Red Crescent National Societies carry out community based – psychosocial support  interventions which concentrate on strengthening the social bonds of people in affected

communities , by improving the psychosocial well being of the individuals and of communities as whole entities. Psychological first aid is the first and direct intervention in the realm of

providing psychosocial support to the victims in the crisis situation. Psychological first aid is based on the fundamental principle of humanity and the intention to help, prevent and alleviate  human sufferings. So this approach is particularly well -suited for the International Federation  of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies . The present study aims to assess knowledge on  psychological first aid among youth red cross volunteers of selected educational institutes of  Sonitpur district, Assam . Non- experimental, quantitative research approach and descriptive  research design will be used for the study . All the youth red cross volunteers of selected  educational institutes fulfilling the selection criterias will be included in the study by total  enumeration sampling technique. Data will be collected by self structured tool, having two  sections. The section – I will be the self structured Socio – Demographic Performa, which will  be used to collect the socio demographic profiles of the participants and section – II will be the

self structured self reported knowledge questionnaire on psychological first aid, which will be used to assess the knowledge on psychological first aid among youth red cross volunteers. Data

will be collected after obtaining written permission from concerned authorities. Subject Information Sheet will be provided, informed consent will be obtained prior to data collection  and anonymity of the data will be maintained during the study. Demographic profile and  knowledge level will be analysed by using descriptive statistics and chi – square test will be  used to find out the association between knowledge with selected socio - demographic

variables.