Veterans’ Experiences Using a Complementary and Integrated Healthcare System: Identifying Themes Across Multiple Dimensions of Wellness

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> The Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) has implemented the Whole Health System (WH), an approach to care focusing on what matters to individual veterans to support health and well-being.1 The approach includes a personalized values-based health plan and complementary and integrative (CIH) health activities.2-4 The purpose of this locally initiated quality improvement effort is to explore veterans' WH experiences, and the programs perceived effect on participants' dimensions of wellness. <h3>Design</h3> A qualitative study design was used to conduct semi-structured telephone interviews; questions aligned with wellness constructs. Data were analyzed using rapid data matrix.5 Data were collected June 2020 through January 2021. <h3>Setting</h3> A WH flagship VA hospital located in the southeast United States. <h3>Participants</h3> This project used purposive recruitment of WH program participants, with emphasis on cohorts of particular interest to the VA including females (n=22) and Veterans with mental health conditions (n=21), chronic pain (n=27), and spinal cord injury (n=4). Participants met inclusionary criteria if they participated in at least two WH program activities. <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> The perceived effects of WH program participation on veterans' well-being related to mental, emotional, social, physical, financial, spiritual, and environmental dimensions. <h3>Results</h3> Participants (N=50) were predominantly married, non-Hispanic white males with an average age of 61 years, with a college degree and an annual income of $50,000 or more. Data indicates veterans experienced improvements relevant to mental health, including mindfulness and coping strategies; physical ailments, including mobility, pain management, and sleep quality; and social engagement in group sessions and daily life. With respect to financial and spiritual wellness, veterans indicated minimal effect. Notably, approximately 5% of the sample indicated, without prompt, reduced suicidal ideation and improvements relevant to medication use. <h3>Conclusions</h3> WH program participation improved veterans' mental, physical, and social well-being in an integrative, non-pharmacological manner. Further research is warranted to assess the impact of CIH approach to care on veterans' health, specifically relevant to suicidal ideation and medication use. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> Non-disclosed.