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Evaluation of the Efficacy of Psychological Interventions in Promoting Preparedness to Armed Conflicts – A Randomized Controlled Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2018

Moran Bodas ,
Maya Siman-Tov ,
Shulamith Kreitler  and
Kobi Peleg
Moran Bodas*
Affiliation:
The Department of Disaster Medicine and Injury Prevention, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Maya Siman-Tov
Affiliation:
Israel National Center for Trauma & Emergency Medicine Research, The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Shulamith Kreitler
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel and Psychooncology Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Kobi Peleg
Affiliation:
The Department of Disaster Medicine and Injury Prevention, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Moran Bodas, The Department of Disaster Medicine & Injury Prevention, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978 Israel (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Abstract

Objective

Despite efforts by civil defense authorities, levels of households’ preparedness to emergencies remain insufficient in many countries. Engaging the public in preparedness behavior is a challenge worldwide. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of psychological intervention in promoting preparedness behavior to armed conflicts in Israel.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial (N = 381) with two control groups and three intervention groups was used. The psychological interventions studied were elevated threat perception, external reward, and manipulation of a cognitive cluster related to preparedness.

Results

The results of the analysis suggest a significant effect of intervention on the increase of reported preparedness (F4,375 = 4.511, P = 0.001). The effect is attributed to the intervention group in which external reward was offered. Participants in this group were about two times more likely to report greater levels of preparedness compared to the control group (RR = 1.855; 95% CI: 1.065, 3.233).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that preparedness behavior can be promoted through external incentives. These are presumably effective motivators because they encourage preparedness while allowing subjects to retain their denial as an adaptive coping mechanism. Innovative thinking is required to overcome the psychological barriers associated with public reluctance to engage in preparedness. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;13:713–723)

Keywords

health behaviorincentivepreparednesspsychological interventionsvictimization
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , August 2019 , pp. 713 - 723
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 

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