The Effect of Support and Training for Family Members on Access to Outpatient Services for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Megan Shepherd-Banigan; Valerie A Smith; Matthew L Maciejewski; Karen M Stechuchak; Susan Nicole Hastings; G Darryl Wieland; Katherine E M Miller; Margaret Kabat; Jennifer Henius; Margaret Campbell-Kotler; Courtney Harold Van Houtven

doi:10.1007/s10488-017-0844-8

The Effect of Support and Training for Family Members on Access to Outpatient Services for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Adm Policy Ment Health. 2018 Jul;45(4):550-564. doi: 10.1007/s10488-017-0844-8.

Authors

Megan Shepherd-Banigan^{1

2}, Valerie A Smith^{3

4}, Matthew L Maciejewski^{3

4}, Karen M Stechuchak³, Susan Nicole Hastings^{3

5

6

7}, G Darryl Wieland⁸, Katherine E M Miller³, Margaret Kabat⁹, Jennifer Henius⁹, Margaret Campbell-Kotler⁹, Courtney Harold Van Houtven^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterans Affairs, Durham VA Medical Center Health Services Research and Development, Durham, NC, USA. mes86@duke.edu.
² Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. mes86@duke.edu.
³ Department of Veterans Affairs, Durham VA Medical Center Health Services Research and Development, Durham, NC, USA.
⁴ Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
⁵ Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
⁶ Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
⁷ Center for the Study of Human Aging and Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
⁸ Social Sciences Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
⁹ Caregiver Support Program, VA Central Office, Washington, DC, USA.

Abstract

The VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) provides landmark support for family caregivers of post-9/11 veterans. This study examines PCAFC support for veterans with and without PTSD and assesses whether program effect differs by PTSD status using a pre-post, non-equivalent, propensity score weighted comparison group design (n = 24,280). Veterans with and without PTSD in PCAFC accessed more mental health, primary, and specialty care services than weighted comparisons. PCAFC participation had stronger effects on access to primary care for veterans with PTSD than for veterans without PTSD. For veterans with PTSD, PCAFC support might enhance health service use.

Keywords: Department of Veteran Affairs policy; Family caregiver; Mental illness; Outpatient service use; PTSD; Veteran.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adult
Ambulatory Care*
Caregivers / education*
Family*
Female
Health Services Accessibility*
Humans
Male
Mental Health Services*
Middle Aged
Primary Health Care*
Propensity Score
Retrospective Studies
Social Support*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / nursing*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy
United States
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding