Peer Visitation for OEF/OIF Veterans
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Purpose
The goal of this study is to train OIF/OIF Veterans with multiple injuries to be Peer Visitors, i.e., Volunteers who visit more recently OIF/OEF Veterans and provide support. We will evaluate the effectiveness of our training, and will evaluate the any benefits that Volunteer Peer Visitors and the Recipients of Peer Visitors might experience as a result of participating in Peer Visitation.
| Condition | Intervention |
|---|---|
|
Polytrauma Blast Injuries |
Other: Peer Visitation |
| Study Type: | Interventional |
| Study Design: | Allocation: Non-Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment Masking: Open Label Primary Purpose: Supportive Care |
| Official Title: | Evaluating a Peer Visitor Program for OIF/OEF Veterans With Polytrauma |
- Post Traumatic Growth Inventory [ Time Frame: Baseline and mean of 8 weeks later ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Depression Screen) [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Positive and Negative Affect Scale [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist- Military Version (PCL-M) [ Time Frame: Pre and Post Participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Cognitive Processing of Trauma Scale [ Time Frame: Pre and Post Participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Perceived Stress Scale [ Time Frame: Pre and Post- Participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Brief COPE [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Patient Activation Measure [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Post-traumatic cognitions Inventory [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Self-Efficacy Scale [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- General Anger Level [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
| Enrollment: | 30 |
| Study Start Date: | November 2010 |
| Study Completion Date: | June 2012 |
| Primary Completion Date: | March 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
| Arms | Assigned Interventions |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Arm 1
There are 2 types of subjects: Veteran Peer Visitors (VPV) and Recipients of Peer Visitors (Recipients). VPV will participate in a 2-day training program and then provide at 1-5 visits to at least 2 recipients. Recipients will receive 1-5 visits.
|
Other: Peer Visitation
Trained Volunteers will visit OEF/OIF Veterans with Polytrauma Injuries to provide support.
|
Detailed Description:
Peer visitation (PV) provides individuals newly dealing with a particular injury/ illness with an opportunity to interact with a peer who has successfully managed a similar condition. Interaction with a successful role model can provide credible social support and information, increase self-efficacy and teach coping strategies, which in turn can engender hope and motivation to engage in treatment and use active coping strategies. In spite of the widespread clinical availability of PV programs, the amount and type of training and clinical/organizational varies widely, and empirical support for their efficacy is limited. The main objective of this project is to test the feasibility of implementing a PV program for OEF/OIF veterans with war-related polytrauma.
The proposed study will represents a unique opportunity to evaluate three important aspects of peer visitation among OEF/OIF Veterans. Our three hypotheses are: H 1: Veteran Peer Visitors (VPVs) who complete the training will demonstrate successful acquisition of efficacy, knowledge and skills as measured by: (1) pre- and post-tests administered before and after the training; (2) trainer evaluations upon completion of the training, (3) self-evaluation of at least two actual peer visits, and (4) evaluation by two individuals who receive peer visits. H2: VPVs who complete the study will demonstrate increased self-care, improved mood, and increased post-traumatic growth compared to pre-training baseline measures. H 3: Veterans who receive a visit from a VPV will endorse improvement in one or more of the following areas: stress, self-efficacy, activation, mood, ability to make meaning of their experiences, and knowledge of coping options.
We propose to use a mixed-methods study to evaluate the feasibility of PV training materials developed in a previous grant to certify 12-18 Veteran Peer Visitors (VPVs). The proposed research team has already developed the VPV training materials to be tested in this feasibility study, including screening tools to identify appropriate candidates for VPV training, an Instructor manual and a Veteran PV workbook. Two types of participants: Veteran Peer Visitors (n=18) and Recipients of VPVs (n=36) will be recruited via the Polytrauma Network Site in VISN 20 (Seattle). VPVs will be nominated by a clinician to participate and, if enrolled, will undergo 2-day training and will be required to pass a test upon completion of training. We have partnered with VA Voluntary Services for this project, and training will include a VA Voluntary Services background check, and orientation to the VHA and VA privacy policies. VPVs will be official VA volunteers. Each certified VPV will be required to provide 1-5 visits to at least two Veterans. Both VPVs and recipients of VPV will complete surveys at baseline and upon study completion so that we can evaluate changes in outcomes pre-post intervention.
The findings of this project will provide an empirical platform upon which to conduct a multi-site trial of Veteran Peer Visitation among other VA Polytrauma programs. If found to be effective, this intervention could be disseminated throughout the VHA.
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
For Peer Visitors:
- eligibility will be determined using a combination of self-assessment, clinician recommendation, and Voluntary Services screening
For participants who are interested in receiving a peer visitor:
- eligibility will be determined by the referring clinical team and the Research Nurse
Peer Visitors:
To be eligible to participate in the study as a potential Veteran Peer Visitor, Veterans must complete several screening steps. A Veteran must be nominated by a clinician from the Center for Polytrauma Care (CPC) Clinical Team, or they must nominate themselves for the project and seek endorsement from a clinician on the CPC team. To be nominated or endorsed by a clinician, the Veteran must have been observed by the clinical team member to demonstrate the following specific behaviors and characteristics:
- Reliable and organized about keeping appointments (80% adherence or better)
- Demonstrate excellent insight into own treatment goals, progress, barriers, treatment rationale
- Not demonstrate any "high-risk" behaviors in the previous 12 months, including suicidal ideation or intent, inpatient psychiatric treatment (other than planned, voluntary admission to Evaluation and Brief Treatment Unit), active substance abuse or dependence, uncontrolled psychotic symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions), felonies.
- Evidence of good social support (i.e., clinician aware of supportive relationships)
- Engaged in meaningful life goals and activities (e.g., work, school, volunteering, parenting, recreation, church)
- Able to pass background check for Voluntary Services
- Must be English Speaking
- Able to complete pen and paper surveys
Exclusion Criteria:
- Not an OEF/OIF Veteran
- Under age 18
- Non English Speaking
- Psychiatrically at risk (i.e., uncontrolled psychotic symptoms, active substance abuse or dependence)
Contacts and Locations| United States, Washington | |
| VA Puget Sound Health Care System | |
| Seattle, Washington, United States, 98108 | |
| Principal Investigator: | Rhonda M. Williams, PhD | VA Puget Sound Health Care System |
More Information
Publications:
| Responsible Party: | Department of Veterans Affairs |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01193686 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | RRP 09-134 |
| Study First Received: | August 31, 2010 |
| Last Updated: | April 18, 2013 |
| Health Authority: | United States: Federal Government |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Blast Injuries Barotrauma Wounds and Injuries |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on June 17, 2013