Linking National Guard Veterans With Need to Mental Health Care

VA Office of Research and Development

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT01156727

SDP 10-047

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project added an evaluation/research component to an existing peer outreach program, implemented for over 1100 soldiers in the Michigan Army National Guard. The study aims were to: 1) evaluate the implementation of the B2B program to inform ongoing program modifications and facilitate future dissemination efforts, 2) assess whether the B2B program increases mental health and substance use treatment initiation and treatment retention among returning National Guard soldiers, and 3) explore whether the B2B program improves mental health symptoms, deceases hazardous alcohol use, and improves soldier well-being.

Full description

The study aims were to: 1) evaluate the implementation of the B2B program to inform ongoing program modifications and facilitate future dissemination efforts, 2) assess whether the B2B program increases mental health and substance use treatment initiation and treatment retention among returning National Guard soldiers, and 3) explore whether the B2B program improves mental health symptoms, deceases hazardous alcohol use, and improves soldier well-being.

The study had three components which addressed each of the three specific aims. The first component assessed B2B implementation using an embedded mixed methods design. This evaluation included real-time assessment and adaptation of the program, as well as retrospective evaluation of implementation process, sustainability, and potential for spread. The second component addressed the impact of B2B on treatment initiation and retention. Preliminary analyses were completed using regression analyses. Pending additional data from the DoD, an interrupted time series design to assess Michigan National Guard soldiers' VA and non-VA services use in multiple time periods before and after the date of B2B implementation will be conducted.. The third study component assessed the impact of B2B on MI ARNG soldiers' outcomes using longitudinal survey data and adjusting for baseline mental health status using data from the Post Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA).

Enrollment: 3,015 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Michigan Army National Guard soldiers who have returned from OEF/OIF deployments between August 2010 and December 2012.

Exclusion criteria

Soldiers who did not return from deployment during the study time period.

Trial design

3,015 participants in 3 patient groups

SURVEY: 6 months post-deployment

Description:

Michigan Army National Guard soldiers 6 months post deployment between August 2011 and December 2013

SURVEY: 12 months post-deployment

Description:

Michigan Army National Guard soldiers 12 months post deployment between August 2011 and December 2013.

INTERVIEWS

Description:

Michigan Army National Guard soldiers 12-24 months post deployment between October 2011-April 2014. Also key stakeholders from the B2B program.