scholarly journals From “Step Away” to “Stand Down”: Tailoring a Smartphone App for Self-Management of Hazardous Drinking for Veterans

10.2196/16062 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e16062
Author(s):  
Daniel Blonigen ◽  
Brooke Harris-Olenak ◽  
Eric Kuhn ◽  
Keith Humphreys ◽  
Christine Timko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Hazardous Drinking ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Primary Care Visit ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Primary Care Population ◽  
Measurement Based Care

Background US military veterans who screen positive for hazardous drinking during primary care visits may benefit from a mobile app. Step Away is an evidence-based mobile intervention system for the self-management of hazardous drinking. However, Step Away was not designed for veterans, and differences between veterans and civilians could limit the reach and effectiveness of the app with this population. Objective The primary objective of this study was to repurpose Step Away to address the needs and preferences of the veteran primary care population. The Method for Program Adaptation through Community Engagement (M-PACE) model was used to guide the adaptation process. This model can serve as a generalizable approach that other researchers and intervention developers can follow to systematically tailor mobile health tools for a new population. Methods Veteran patients who screened positive for hazardous drinking during a primary care visit (n=12) and peer providers employed by the US Veterans Health Administration (n=11) were recruited to systematically review Step Away and provide feedback on its content and presentation via Web-based surveys and a semistructured interview. Participant feedback was reviewed through an iterative process by key stakeholders who adjudicated which suggested modifications to the app could enhance engagement and effectiveness with veterans while maintaining program integrity. Results Usability ratings of the individual modules of Step Away were uniformly positive across patients and peers, as was the perceived utility of the app overall. Personalized feedback on the health consequences and costs of drinking, options for customization, and the measurement-based care capabilities of the app were viewed as facilitators of engagement. Conversely, lengthy text, small font, and a lack of interactive features were viewed as potential barriers with the older primary care population. Modifications to create a veteran version of the app (Stand Down: Think Before You Drink) included altering the appearance of the app to incorporate more veteran-centric content, adding links and options for resources and activities for veterans, and reducing the amount of text and adding veteran-specific references and common concerns and triggers for drinking in this population. Conclusions The M-PACE model provided a systematic approach to repurpose Step Away to fit the needs and preferences of veteran primary care patients who engage in hazardous drinking. Stand Down may serve as an innovative, low-cost means of expanding access to care for veterans who engage in hazardous drinking.

scholarly journals From “Step Away” to “Stand Down”: Tailoring a Smartphone App for Self-Management of Hazardous Drinking for Veterans (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Blonigen ◽  
Brooke Harris-Olenak ◽  
Eric Kuhn ◽  
Keith Humphreys ◽  
Christine Timko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Hazardous Drinking ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Primary Care Visit ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Primary Care Population ◽  
Measurement Based Care

BACKGROUND US military veterans who screen positive for hazardous drinking during primary care visits may benefit from a mobile app. Step Away is an evidence-based mobile intervention system for the self-management of hazardous drinking. However, Step Away was not designed for veterans, and differences between veterans and civilians could limit the reach and effectiveness of the app with this population. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to repurpose Step Away to address the needs and preferences of the veteran primary care population. The Method for Program Adaptation through Community Engagement (M-PACE) model was used to guide the adaptation process. This model can serve as a generalizable approach that other researchers and intervention developers can follow to systematically tailor mobile health tools for a new population. METHODS Veteran patients who screened positive for hazardous drinking during a primary care visit (n=12) and peer providers employed by the US Veterans Health Administration (n=11) were recruited to systematically review Step Away and provide feedback on its content and presentation via Web-based surveys and a semistructured interview. Participant feedback was reviewed through an iterative process by key stakeholders who adjudicated which suggested modifications to the app could enhance engagement and effectiveness with veterans while maintaining program integrity. RESULTS Usability ratings of the individual modules of Step Away were uniformly positive across patients and peers, as was the perceived utility of the app overall. Personalized feedback on the health consequences and costs of drinking, options for customization, and the measurement-based care capabilities of the app were viewed as facilitators of engagement. Conversely, lengthy text, small font, and a lack of interactive features were viewed as potential barriers with the older primary care population. Modifications to create a veteran version of the app (<i>Stand Down: Think Before You Drink</i>) included altering the appearance of the app to incorporate more veteran-centric content, adding links and options for resources and activities for veterans, and reducing the amount of text and adding veteran-specific references and common concerns and triggers for drinking in this population. CONCLUSIONS The M-PACE model provided a systematic approach to repurpose Step Away to fit the needs and preferences of veteran primary care patients who engage in hazardous drinking. Stand Down may serve as an innovative, low-cost means of expanding access to care for veterans who engage in hazardous drinking.

Characterizing Primary Care Visit Activities at Veterans Health Administration Clinics1

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Gutierrez ◽  
Christian Terwiesch ◽  
Amy R. Pettit ◽  
Steven C. Marcus
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Veterans Health Administration ◽  
Primary Care Visit ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Care Visit

scholarly journals Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches Are Underused Among Older Veterans With Musculoskeletal Pain

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 203-203
Author(s):  
Ling Han ◽  
Robert Kerns ◽  
Melissa Skanderson ◽  
Stephen Luther ◽  
Samah Fodeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Estimating Equation ◽  
Chiropractic Care ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Integrative Health ◽  
Spatial Confounding

Abstract Complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches are recommended in national policy guidelines as viable options for managing chronic pain, yet their use among Veterans has been suboptimal, especially for older Veterans. We identified 64,444 Veterans with a diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) who reported a moderate to severe pain intensity during primary care visits in 2013 from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) electronic records. Using natural language processing (NLP), CIH use (acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage) was documented for 8169 (6.5%) of 125408 primary care visits in providers’ progress notes. Compared to their younger counterparts, older Veterans aged ≥ 65 years had 21% lower likelihood of using CIH during the year [Odds Ratio (OR): 0.79; 95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 0.73, 0.86] after accounting for demographic, clinical, temporal and spatial confounding using a generalized estimating equation logistic model. Non-white race/ethnicity, tobacco use, medical comorbidities and diagnosis of alcohol or substance use disorders were independently associated with less CIH use (ORs ranging 0.97-0.80, p&lt;0.03-0.0001); whereas female gender, being married and number of MSD diagnoses were associated with greater CIH use (ORs ranging 1.13-1.30, p&lt;0.0001). Redefining CIH use as chiropractic care alone [4.8% person-visits; OR: 0.78 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.86)] or incorporating structured data [9.0% person-visits; OR: 0.76 (95% CI: 0.70-0.82)] in the adjusted GEE model derived consistent results. Research to identify and address barriers to CIH use among older Veterans is encouraged.

Women Veterans’ Experiences with Integrated, Biopsychosocial Pain Care: A Qualitative Study

Pain Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca M Nicosia ◽  
Carolyn J Gibson ◽  
Natalie Purcell ◽  
Kara Zamora ◽  
Jennifer Tighe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Women Veterans ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Care Models ◽  
Va Health Care System ◽  
Pain Care ◽  
Gender Specific

Abstract Objectives Biopsychosocial, integrated pain care models are increasingly implemented in the Veterans Health Administration to improve chronic pain care and reduce opioid-related risks, but little is known about how well these models address women veterans’ needs. Design Qualitative, interview-based study. Setting San Francisco VA Health Care System Integrated Pain Team (IPT), an interdisciplinary team that provides short-term, personalized chronic pain care emphasizing functional goals and active self-management. Subjects Women with chronic pain who completed ≥3 IPT sessions. Methods Semistructured phone interviews focused on overall experience with IPT, perceived effectiveness of IPT care, pain care preferences, and suggested changes for improving gender-sensitive pain care. We used a rapid approach to qualitative thematic analysis to analyze interviews. Results Fourteen women veterans (mean age 51 years; range 33–67 years) completed interviews. Interviews revealed several factors impacting women veterans’ experiences: 1) an overall preference for receiving both primary and IPT care in gender-specific settings, 2) varying levels of confidence that IPT could adequately address gender-specific pain issues, 3) barriers to participating in pain groups, and 4) barriers to IPT self-management recommendations due to caregiving responsibilities. Conclusions Women veterans reported varied experiences with IPT. Recommendations to improve gender-sensitive pain care include increased provider training; increased knowledge of and sensitivity to women’s health concerns; and improved accommodations for prior trauma, family and work obligations, and geographic barriers. To better meet the needs of women veterans with chronic pain, integrated pain care models must be informed by an understanding of gender-specific needs, challenges, and preferences.

scholarly journals Outcomes of Primary Care for People With Dementia: What’s Important?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 164-165
Author(s):  
Laura Wray ◽  
Bonnie Vest ◽  
Laura Brady ◽  
Christina Vair ◽  
Gregory Beehler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Primary Care Teams ◽  
Care Outcomes

Abstract People with dementia (PWD) typically receive most of their healthcare in primary care (PC), but neurocognitive disorders can be challenging to recognize, assess, and manage in that setting. As a result, cognitive impairment in older adults is often missed or not addressed until later stages. The result is poor management of comorbid health conditions, increased healthcare utilization, and negative outcomes for the patient and family. Further, strategies for improvement and barriers to high quality PC for PWD have received limited attention. To improve PC for PWD, it is essential to understand what care outcomes should be targeted. To address this gap, we used a qualitative approach to examine potential outcomes of PC from the perspectives of older adults, family caregivers, primary care teams, and geriatrics specialists (n=79) from two Veterans Health Administration healthcare systems. Participants were interviewed individually or in focus groups. A directed content analysis based on the adapted Donabedian model was employed and expanded to fully capture transcript content. Three main categories of outcomes were identified: Personhood (i.e., independence), Physical Health and Safety, and Quality of Life. Regardless of participant type, respondents focused on similar desired outcomes and, notably, identified outcomes as important for both patients and their broader social context (i.e., caregivers, family). Discussion will: show how findings align with work conducted in specialty and residential care; describe how challenges to attaining these outcomes in PC can be overcome; and, challenge cognitive screening recommendations for PC that are based primarily on risk/benefit analysis of medication-focused outcomes.

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