Clinical Trial: Peer Visitation for OEF/OIF Veterans

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Evaluating a Peer Visitor Program for OIF/OEF Veterans With Polytrauma

Brief Summary: The goal of this study was 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 evaluated the effectiveness of the training, and any benefits that Volunteer Peer Visitors and the Recipients of Peer Visitors experienced as a result of participating in Peer Visitation.

Detailed Summary:

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 represented a unique opportunity to evaluate three important aspects of peer visitation among OEF/OIF Veterans. Our three hypotheses were: 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 used a mixed-methods study to evaluate the feasibility of PV training materials developed in a previous grant to certify 12-18 Veteran Pe
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Current Primary Outcome: Post Traumatic Growth Inventory [ Time Frame: Upon completion of study requirements (i.e., visits) ]

Administered only to Peer Visitors, possible range 0-105, with higher scores indicating greater post-traumatic growth. Post-traumatic growth includes emotional changes such as noticing a stronger sense of self, deepened relationships, increased sense of gratitude or appreciation for life, increased spirituality.


Original Primary Outcome: Post Traumatic Growth Inventory [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ]

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Depression Screen) [ Time Frame: Upon completion of visits. ]
    9-item depression screen with possible response options ranging from 9-36, with higher numbers indicating greater depression symptom severity.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist- Military Version (PCL-M) [ Time Frame: Upon study completion. ]
    Measures PTSD symptoms. Possible scores range from 19-95, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.
  • Patient Activation Measure [ Time Frame: Post- Participation ]
    Measures participante self-efficacy, knowledge of and engagement in health care. Possible scores range from 13-52 with higher scores indicating greater efficacy/knowledge/engagement.
  • General Anger Level [ Time Frame: Post- Participation ]
    5-item scale developed for this study. Assesses level of perceived experienced anger in the past month. Possible scores range from 5-35 with higher scores indicating greater levels of anger.


Original Secondary Outcome:

  • Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Depression Screen) [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ]
  • Positive and Negative Affect Scale [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- participation ]
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist- Military Version (PCL-M) [ Time Frame: Pre and Post Participation ]
  • Cognitive Processing of Trauma Scale [ Time Frame: Pre and Post Participation ]
  • Perceived Stress Scale [ Time Frame: Pre and Post- Participation ]
  • Brief COPE [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ]
  • Patient Activation Measure [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ]
  • Post-traumatic cognitions Inventory [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ]
  • Self-Efficacy Scale [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ]
  • General Anger Level [ Time Frame: Pre- and Post- Participation ]


Information By: VA Office of Research and Development

Dates:
Date Received: August 31, 2010
Date Started: November 2010
Date Completion:
Last Updated: April 6, 2015
Last Verified: October 2014