@article{ref1,
title="Piloting a scalable, post-trauma psychosocial intervention in Tuvalu: the Skills for Life Adjustment and Resilience (SOLAR) program",
journal="European journal of psychotraumatology",
year="2021",
author="Gibson, Kari and Little, Jonathon and Cowlishaw, Sean and Ipitoa Toromon, Teawa and Forbes, David and O'Donnell, Meaghan",
volume="12",
number="1",
pages="e1948253-e1948253",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The Skills for Life Adjustment and Resilience (SOLAR) programme is a brief, scalable, psychosocial skill-building programme designed to reduce distress and adjustment difficulties following disaster. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: We tested the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy and safety of a culturally adapted version of SOLAR in two remote, cyclone-affected communities in the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu. <br><br>METHOD: This pilot adopted a quasi-experimental, control design involving 99 participants. SOLAR was administered to the treatment group (n = 49) by local, non-specialist facilitators (i.e. 'Coaches') in a massed, group format across 5 consecutive days. The control group (n = 50) had access to Usual Care (UC). We compared group differences (post-intervention vs. post-control) with psychological distress being the primary outcome. We also examined whether changes were maintained at 6-month follow-up. <br><br>RESULTS: Large, statistically significant group differences in psychological distress were observed after controlling for baseline scores in favour of the SOLAR group. Mean group outcomes were consistently lower at 6-month follow-up than at baseline. SOLAR was found to be acceptable and safe, and programme feedback from participants and Coaches was overwhelmingly positive. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Findings contribute to emerging evidence that SOLAR is a flexible, culturally adaptable and scalable intervention that can support individual recovery and adjustment in the aftermath of disaster. RCTs to strengthen evidence of SOLAR's efficacy are warranted.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2000-8198",
doi="10.1080/20008198.2021.1948253",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1948253"
}