Online and Shared Decision-Making Interventions to Engage Service Men and Women in Post-Deployment Mental Health Care

Summary

OEF/OIF/OND war Veterans have unique post-deployment care needs that the VA is striving to understand and address. Unfortunately, there is a significant disparity in utilization of mental health (MH) care and VA access as most war Veterans don't seek needed care. New interventions are urgently needed to address disparities in post-deployment MH treatment engagement for war Veterans and to support VA's efforts to provide them with optimal access and care. Online health interventions have been shown to be preferred by OEF/OIF combat Veterans and have the potential to promote access to VA MH care. The investigators' research team has developed a web-based interface (WEB-ED) evolved by feedback from Veterans that screens for common post-deployment MH and readjustment concerns, provides tailored education about positive screens, and facilitates linkage to VA resources. Data from the investigators' prior studies demonstrate WEB-ED can be successfully implemented within VA and activate Veterans to seek needed care. Furthermore, emerging evidence indicates that when patients are educated about their health conditions and treatment alternatives using shared decision-making (SDM), increased treatment participation and adherence, and better health outcomes result. Next steps include: linking Veteran WEB-ED screening results to a VA secure network so that a provider can access the results; and integrating a SDM interface to promote Veteran-Provider partnerships in patient-centered care. This study will improve the investigators' understanding of the most effective methods to reduce barriers to enrollment in VA/MHV and transferring important medical information using My HealtheVet (MHV). Furthermore, it will provide important information regarding how WEB-ED results can enhance the capability of VA providers and transition patient advocates to use Veterans' screening results to triage and engage Veterans in patient-centered MH care and promote VA provider adoption of WEB-ED+ to facilitate patient engagement. Online screening, tailored education, and links to geographically accessible VA resources has been shown to be preferred by Veterans, providing recognition of treatable post-deployment MH concerns, and education that reduces stigma. This study builds upon and augments this prior work with research to understand and evaluate the processes needed to integrate WEB-ED+ into current VHA systems to support efficient care delivery, facilitate patient-centered care, and address unmet need for MH care while also resolving disparities in VA and VA MH care access and engagement for war Veterans. WEB-ED+'s use of shared decision making is a key component for promoting these benefits. WEB-ED+ represents a readily implementable and cost-effective intervention that, with partner collaboration, can be integrated into VA systems through MHV. Findings have important policy implications for several operational partners heavily invested in the improved access and delivery of evidence-based mental health care for war Veterans.

Conditions

• PTSD
• Depression
• Substance Use Disorder
• Traumatic Brain Injury

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

WEB-ED+ Treatment Arm

Veterans who screen positive on one or more mental health screens in WEB-ED will be RCT-eligible. RCT-consenters randomly assigned to the WEB-ED+ Treatment are will receive:: * eHealth interfaces tailored to Veterans' VA and MHV enrollment needs (links for electronic VA enrollment, MHV and MHV premium status enrollment). * Shared decision making (SDM) interfaces: Patient Decision aids (PTSD, depression, alcohol abuse); SDM educational video; videos). * Access to study staff available through a toll-free number to assist both Veterans and providers, including addressing questions, problem-solving about or assisting with stuck points (e.g. getting screening results to the provider).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Anne G. Sadler, PhD RN · Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-06-01

Primary Completion

2023-05-31

Completion

2023-05-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations