Search

The article offers information on the health coaching, a patient-centered modality that focuses on personal goals, values, and strengths to facilitate well-being. It mentions the feasibility and acceptability of a telephone-delivered health coaching intervention among veterans with suicidal ideation; and also mentions the use of health coaching among clients with mental health conditions has examined the use of coaching among patients with suicidal ideation.

A total of 295 veterans who died by suicide in 2009 across 11 states and received Veterans Affairs (VA) health care in the 6 months prior to death were identified. The suicide risk factors documented and the care received at these veterans' last VA contacts are described, and the study explores whether veterans present differently to VA care (i.e., different risk factors documented or different care settings accessed) based on the proximity of their last contact to suicide. Many veterans were seen in primary care (n = 136; 46%) for routine follow-up (n = 168; 57%). Fifty-three (18%) were assessed for suicidal thoughts; 20 (38%) of whom endorsed such thoughts. Although higher frequencies of some risk factors at last contacts more proximal to suicide compared to those more distal were observed, findings overall highlight the challenges clinicians face detecting enhanced risk prior to suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To examine primary care clinician actions following positive suicide risk assessments administered to Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans. Methods: We identified OEF/OIF veterans with positive templated suicide risk assessments administered in primary care settings of three Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers. National VA datasets and manual record review were used to identify and code clinician discussions and actions following positive assessments. Bivariate analyses were used to examine relationships between patient characteristics and discussions of firearms access and alcohol/drug use. Results: Primary care clinicians documented awareness of suicide risk assessment results for 157 of 199 (79%) patients with positive assessments. Most patients were assessed for mental health conditions and referred for mental health follow-up. Clinicians documented discussions about firearms access for only 15% of patients. Among patients whose clinicians assessed for substance abuse, 34% received recommendations to reduce alcohol or drug use. Depression diagnoses and suicidal ideation/behavior severity were significantly associated with firearms access discussions, while patient sex, military service branch, and substance abuse diagnoses were significantly associated with recommendations to reduce substance use. Conclusion: Greater efforts are needed to understand barriers to clinicians' assessing, documenting and counseling once suicidal ideation is detected, and to develop training programs and systems changes to address these barriers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: We sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) among Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans following the Department of Veterans Affairs′ (VA) 2007 implementation of required brief SI assessments for veterans who screen positive for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Methods: We retrospectively identified OEF/OIF veterans screened for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) between April 2008 and September 2009 at three geographically-distinct VA Medical Centers′ primary care or mental health clinics. Veteran responses to a two-item risk assessment tool (VA Pocket Card) or PHQ-9 9th item, administered following a positive depression screen (PHQ-2≥3), were determined using manual chart review. Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios for demographic and clinical correlates of positive SI assessments. Results: Of 1340 OEF/OIF veterans with positive depression screens, 32.4% reported SI. In multivariate models, odds of SI were lower for non-Hispanic white veterans (AOR=0.68) and greater for those with PHQ-2≥5 (AOR=1.87), depression (AOR=1.45), bipolar disorder/schizophrenia (AOR=2.84), and 2 or ≥3 diagnoses (AORs=1.59 and 2.49, respectively). Limitations: Study findings may not be generalizable to non-veteran patient populations and the study does not address the reliability and validity of tools employed for brief suicidal ideation assessment. Conclusions: SI is common among OEF/OIF veterans who receive VA care, perhaps more so among non-white veterans. Targeting veterans with higher PHQ-2 scores for SI assessment should be considered to reduce patient and administrative burden. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We describe prior use and willingness to try complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among 401 veterans experiencing chronic noncancer pain and explore differences between CAM users and nonusers. Participants in a randomized controlled trial of a collaborative intervention for chronic pain from five Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care clinics self-reported prior use and willingness to try chiropractic care, massage therapy, herbal medicines, and acupuncture. Prior CAM users were compared with nonusers on demographic characteristics, pain-related clinical characteristics, disease burden, and treatment satisfaction. A majority of veterans (n = 327, 82%) reported prior use of at least one CAM modality, and nearly all (n = 399, 99%) were willing to try CAM treatment for pain. Chiropractic care was the least preferred option, whereas massage therapy was the most preferred (75% and 96%, respectively). CAM users were less likely to have service-connection disabilities (54% vs 68%; chi square = 4.64, p = 0.03) and reported having spent a larger percentage of their lives in pain (26% vs 20%; Z = 1.40, p = 0.04) than nonusers. We detected few differences between veterans who had tried CAM and those who had not, suggesting that CAM may have broad appeal among veterans with chronic pain. Implications for VA policy and practice and for clinicians treating veterans with chronic pain are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While screening and treatment options for patients who disclose suicidal ideation in clinical settings have grown in recent decades, little is known about patient experiences following disclosure. We characterize patient perspectives of responses following disclosure of suicidal ideation in Veteran Health Administration (VHA) primary care and mental health settings. Qualitative thematic analysis using a conventional/directed hybrid approach. A national sample comprised of sixty participants who recently screened for suicidal ideation in primary care (n = 28) and mental health (n = 32) settings completed interviews. Many patients described therapeutic experiences following disclosure, including caring staff, timely follow-up care, and offers of multiple treatment options. Other patients, however, reported deficits in staff empathy, long waits for follow-up care, or inadequate treatment options. While many VA clinical settings provided empathic and helpful responses, these experiences were not universal. Our findings reinforce the importance of a patient-centered approach to screening and response to disclosure, including collaboration with patients in treatment planning. Improved follow-up care coordination processes are needed. Following disclosure, contact with the staff who received the disclosure also helps patients feel cared about, and provides opportunity to troubleshoot barriers a patient may experience in accessing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Whole Health model of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) emphasizes holistic self-care and multimodal approaches to improve pain, functioning, and quality of life. w HOPE (Whole Health Options and Pain Education) seeks to be the first multisite pragmatic trial to establish evidence for the VA Whole Health model for chronic pain care. Design w HOPE is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial comparing a Whole Health Team (WHT) approach to Primary Care Group Education (PC-GE); both will be compared to Usual VA Primary Care (UPC). The WHT consists of a medical provider, a complementary and integrative health (CIH) provider, and a Whole Health coach, who collaborate with VA patients to create a Personalized Health Plan emphasizing CIH approaches to chronic pain management. The active comparator, PC-GE, is adapted group cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain. The first aim is to test whether the WHT approach is superior to PC-GE and whether both are superior to UPC in decreasing pain interference in functioning in 750 veterans with moderate to severe chronic pain (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes include changes in pain severity, quality of life, mental health symptoms, and use of nonpharmacological and pharmacological therapies for pain. Outcomes will be collected from the VA electronic health record and patient-reported data over 12 months of follow-up. Aim 2 consists of an implementation-focused process evaluation and budget impact analysis. Summary This trial is part of the Pain Management Collaboratory, which seeks to create national-level infrastructure to support evidence-based nonpharmacological pain management approaches for veterans and military service personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]