Veteran Engagement Research Articles

Development of a peer-delivered primary care intervention to improve veteran mental health treatment engagement.

Veteran engagement in mental health treatment (MHT) remains low. Peer specialists (PS) are well positioned to implement interventions addressing barriers to MHT engagement, given their familiarity with the process. This study aimed to develop and assess the acceptability of a primary care-based, PS-delivered intervention to improve MHT initiation. Aim 1 utilized modified Delphi methods with a committee of 12 stakeholders (e.g., PS, psychologists, and veteran patients) who provided input on the proposed PS-delivered MHT engagement intervention. The proposed intervention components included questionnaires to identify barriers to engagement and targeted strategies for the barriers (e.g., motivational interviewing, cognitive restructuring). Aim 2 consisted of qualitative interviews with veterans entering MHT, focused on acceptability and feasibility, and gathered additional feedback for the intervention drafted in Aim 1. PS in primary care also reviewed the intervention and provided feedback. Results from Aim 1 demonstrated the acceptability of PS utilizing questionnaires in their work with Veterans, emphasized the importance of rapport building, and provided consensus on the identification of tailored treatment strategies. Veterans entering MHT (n = 9) reported that they were excited about the option of PS being involved in treatment engagement. PS (n = 18) also reported the overall acceptability of the intervention and provided feedback impacting the implementation of the intervention. Incorporating primary care PS into MHT engagement is acceptable. This study serves as the first step in developing a PS-delivered intervention to improve engagement in veteran MHT with input from a diverse group of stakeholders. Implications and future directions will be explored. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Experiences and lessons learned from a patient-engagement service established by a national research consortium in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration.

Meaningful engagement of patients in the research process has increased over the past 20 years. Few accounts are available of engagement infrastructure and processes used by large research organizations. The Pain/Opioid Consortium of Research (Consortium) is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research network that provides infrastructure to accelerate health research and implementation of evidence-based health care. The Consortium's key activities include facilitating Veteran-engaged research and building community between Veterans and VA researchers. This report sought to describe experiences and lessons learned from the first 3 years of a national research engagement service, featuring a Veteran Engagement (VE) Panel, established by the Consortium. We gathered authors' experiences to describe development and operation of the Consortium's VE Panel. Engagement staff collected program evaluation data about partners (Veterans and researchers), projects about which the VE Panel consulted, and meeting attendance during operation of the engagement service. We created a 12-member VE Panel; all of whom had lived experience with chronic pain, prescription opioid medication use, or opioid use disorder. Engagement staff and VE Panel members implemented an engagement service operational model designed to continuously learn and adapt. The panel consulted on 48 projects spanning the research process. Seventy-eight percent of panel members, on average, attended each monthly meeting. VE Panel members and participating researchers reported high satisfaction with the quality, ease, and outcomes of their engagement service experiences. This work provides an illustrative example of how a national research consortium facilitated Veteran-engaged research and built community between Veterans and VA researchers by developing and operating an ongoing engagement consulting service, featuring a VE Panel. The service, designed as a learning community, relied on skilled engagement staff to cultivate high quality experiences and outcomes for all partners.

Insights into optimizing phantom pain management: A human-centered approach to end-user perspectives.

This report explores and summarizes perspectives from end users on unmet needs in achieving optimal and effective phantom pain management through a human-centered design approach. To examine current strategies, pharmacological, nonpharmacological, surgical procedures, virtual reality, and mirror therapy, and the evidence supporting them, in the management of phantom limb pain. This study reviewed and analyzed transcripts acquired in nonresearch contexts from the Veterans Affairs Translational Education and Mentoring Center's commercialization training program and from a Veteran Engagement Panel. Key themes were extracted using quasi-qualitative analysis of one-on-one interviews. Clinicians and patients report that early patient intervention and education will yield improved management of phantom limb pain, which aligns with the growing recognition of the impact of patient-centered care on overall treatment outcomes. Mirror therapy is viewed as an effective and low-risk therapy, though compliance and buy-in may be barriers to clinical practice. Patient engagement can contribute to better treatment adherence and outcomes. The study highlights implementation barriers, importance of end-user input, and the role of the Veteran Engagement Panel in providing feedback to pain researchers. The findings help explain unaddressed challenges and areas requiring further research to direct phantom pain management.

Association between a national behavioral weight management program and real-world weight change

ObjectiveIn a national cohort of Veterans, weight change was compared between participants in a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) behavioral weight management program (MOVE!) and matched non-participants, and between high-intensity and low-intensity participants. MethodsRetrospective cohort study of Veterans with 1 + MOVE! visits in 2008–2017 were matched to MOVE! non-participants via sequential stratification. Percent weight change up to two years after MOVE! initiation of participants and non-participants was modeled using generalized additive mixed models, and 1-year weight change of high-intensity or low-intensity participants was also compared. ResultsMOVE! participants (n = 499,696) and non-participant controls (n = 1,336,172) were well-matched, with an average age of 56 years and average BMI of 35. MOVE! participants lost 1.4 % at 12 months and 1.2 % at 24 months, which was 0.89 % points (95 % CI: 0.83–0.96) more at 12 months than non-participants and 0.55 % points (95 % CI: 0.41–0.68) more at 24 months. 9.1 % of MOVE! participants had high-intensity use in one year, and they had 2.38 % point (95 % CI: 2.25–2.52) greater weight loss than low-intensity participation at 12 months (2.8 % vs 0.4 %). ConclusionsParticipation in VA’s system-wide behavioral weight management program (MOVE!) was associated with modest weight loss, suggesting that program modifications are needed to increase Veteran engagement and program effectiveness. Future research should further explore how variations in program delivery and the use of newer anti-obesity medications may impact the program’s effectiveness.

Abstract P290: Telephone Lifestyle Coaching - Sex Differences in Referrals and Enrollment During National Implementation

Objectives: Telephone Lifestyle Coaching (TLC) is an evidence-based program providing individualized telephone coaching and self-management support to Veterans working on personalized, healthy living SMART goals. Given the flexibility of telephone support, we explored sex differences in TLC referrals and enrollment. We focus on sex to identify potential opportunities with virtual/telephone prevention programs in VA. Methods: Since March 2019, 44 VA sites have implemented TLC nationwide. Under VA’s QUERI rapid response evaluation program, we examined sex differences in referrals and enrollment with logistic regression controlling for demographics, mental and physical health, prior participation in a VA Whole Health Program and VA’s MOVE! Weight Management Program, and site-level clustering. The sample included all Veterans with at least one primary care visit one year prior to starting TLC. Results: As of 12/31/22, a total of 11,719 Veterans had at least one TLC referral, with 9,514 enrolled (82%), totaling 122,233 encounters. For both referrals and enrollment, mean age was 54, with 33% female, 29% Black, 7% Hispanic, and 34% with rural residence. In adjusted models, female Veterans had increased odds of being referred (OR=2.40, CI:1.89-3.05) and enrolling (OR=1.27, CI:1.13-1.42) compared to male Veterans. Odds of referral were higher for younger Veterans (OR=0.98, CI:0.97-0.98), those with depression (OR=1.62, CI:1.46-1.81), PTSD (OR=1.45, CI:1.21-1.73), overweight/obesity (OR=2.38, CI:1.58-3.57), at least one cardiovascular (CV) risk (OR=1.94, CI:1.63-2.30), and prior participation in Whole Health (OR=2.46, CI:1.74-3.51) or MOVE! (OR=6.40; CI:4.02-10.19). Similar associations with enrollment were observed, except Veterans with depression had decreased odds of enrollment (OR=0.84, CI:0.750.93), and effects for PTSD and CV risks were not significant. Conclusions: TLC demonstrated success in reach and engagement of female Veterans at rates above their national proportions in VA care. Referrals targeted weight and CV risk consistent with Veteran clinical needs. Our findings suggest that prior participation with MOVE! and Whole Health may facilitate engagement. Mental health diagnoses were not a barrier to referral, but depression status may reduce patient participation. Impact: TLC and virtual modalities of lifestyle coaching may have broader application for reaching and engaging female Veterans, as well as Veterans with mental health and CV risks who can benefit from health behavior change to optimize care.

At Risk and Underserved: Veterans Treatment Court Team Member Perspectives on Service Delivery Challenges

ABSTRACT As Veterans Treatment Courts (VTC) proliferate across the United States, questions have been raised about their capacity to provide critical services and support for justice-involved veterans. The current study examines the key decisions made by core VTC team members as justice-involved veterans move through each stage in the VTC process. This study presents in-depth interviews with 145 VTC team members from 20 court jurisdictions across the United States. Interviews revealed common challenges in meeting the service needs of VTC participants coalescing around five intercepts addressing challenges related to pre-entry, eligibility, service coordination and access, and veteran engagement. VTC team members’ views about how best to provide services and support to justice-involved veterans are also highlighted. This study provides the unique perspectives of VTC team members on how to address these challenges in ways that will enhance their ability to offer services and provide support for justice-involved veterans.

Mental health therapy for veterans with PTSD as a family affair: A qualitative inquiry into how family support and social norms influence veteran engagement in care.

Social support is important for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) recovery and emerging literature indicate that social support could increase engagement in PTSD therapy. However, there is a need to understand how and why family involvement can increase treatment engagement to inform strategies used in clinical practice. This study explores how individuals with PTSD and family members of individuals with PTSD experience therapy and how social interactions help or hinder therapy engagement. We interviewed 18 U.S. military veterans who had been referred for psychotherapy for PTSD in the Veterans Health Administration and 13 family members and used rapid content analysis to identify themes. We found that engaging in therapy was a family-level decision that participants expected to improve family life. Veterans were motivated to seek treatment to protect their relationships with loved ones. Family members generally encouraged veterans to seek treatment. Specifically, family members who viewed PTSD as a treatable illness versus a static aspect of the veteran's personality expressed positive attitudes about the effectiveness of therapy for reducing symptoms. Veterans whose social networks included individuals with prior military or trauma-related experiences reported that their loved ones possessed more understanding of PTSD and described positive subjective norms around therapy. Family members are often embedded in the therapy process because PTSD has a profound impact on the family. Positive subjective norms for therapy are created by family encouragement and may influence veteran perceptions about the value of treatment. Family members should be engaged early in mental health therapy and to the extent desired by the patient and family member. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Improving a Sanctioned Homeless Encampment for Veterans During COVID-19 Through Multilevel Partnerships.

A veteran-clinician-researcher partnership-the Care, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Service (CTRS)-enabled quality improvement within a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-sanctioned homeless encampment created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the differing concerns of clinicians and operational leaders led to challenges in defining CTRS's goals and quality metrics, partnering with frontline social work and peer staff (N=11) and veterans (N=21 of 381 CTRS participants) and considering their feedback resolved those differences. Multilevel partnerships improved care within the encampment, leading to the development of an encampment medicine team (providing onsite integrated health care) and a veteran engagement committee (providing feedback).

Evaluation of the NHS England ‘Op COURAGE’ High Intensity Service for military veterans with significant mental health problems

IntroductionIn November 2020, The NHS for England launched a pilot High Intensity Service (HIS) programme for treating military veterans complex mental health problems. Seven regional grants were awarded to manage...

VHA Whole Health Services and Complementary and Integrative Health Therapies: a Gateway to Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment.

Engagement in evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) among veterans with behavioral health conditions is often low. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is implementing a "Whole Health (WH)" system of care, to identify veteran personal health goals, align care with those goals, and offer services designed to engage and empower veterans to achieve well-being. To examine the relationship between veteran WH utilization and subsequent engagement in EBP. Retrospective analysis of VHA administrative records from 18 facilities implementing WH. Veterans (n = 265,364) with a diagnosis of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and/or anxiety who had a mental healthcare encounter but no EBP use in fiscal year (FY) 2018. Among this cohort, 33,146 (12.5%) began using WH in FY2019. We examined use of an EBP for depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD within 1year of the index date of WH use compared to use of an EBP anytime during FY2019 for veterans not identified as using WH. We used multiple logistic regression to examine the association between veteran WH use and EBP engagement. Approximately 3.0% (n = 7,860) of the veterans in our overall cohort engaged in an EBP in the year following their index date. Controlling for key demographic, health, and utilization variables, WH users had 2.4 (95% CI: 2.2-2.5) times higher odds of engaging in an EBP the following year than those with no WH utilization. Associations between utilization of specific WH services (vs. no utilization of that service) and engagement in an EBP in the subsequent year ranged from 1.6 (95% CI: 1.0-2.6) to 3.5 (95% CI: 3.2-3.9) across the different types of WH services used. WH use was associated with increased engagement in EBPs among veterans with depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD. Future interventions intended to promote veteran engagement in EBPs may benefit from leveraging WH services and therapies.

Gender Differences in Barriers and Facilitators to Care among U.S. military Veterans at High Risk for Suicide: A Qualitative Study

Veteran engagement in care is imperative to suicide prevention. However, barriers to engaging veterans at risk for suicide in care remain a challenge, and women veterans may have unique experiences that promote or inhibit care-seeking behaviors. The goal of this study was to better understand barriers and facilitators to care among veterans at high risk for suicide and identify potential gender differences. We interviewed 25 women and 25 men veterans utilizing VHA health care across the United States (U.S.), who had a recent suicide attempt (6 months prior). Psychological safety was a dominant theme for veterans seeking and using VHA care. Women and men both needed to feel safe and comfortable in the VHA environment. Women described psychological safety as being able to let their guard down, while men desired to not feel judged for seeking care. Veterans felt a sense of comradery in the VHA environment; however, women did not always feel welcome as veterans. Findings suggest the need to attend to the psychological safety of women and men veterans at high risk of suicide in VHA. Strategies to attune VHA staff to trauma-informed care practices for women and expand trauma-informed care resources may facilitate care engagement.

Exploring the importance of predisposing, enabling, and need factors for promoting Veteran engagement in mental health therapy for post-traumatic stress: a multiple methods study

PurposeThis study explored Veteran and family member perspectives on factors that drive post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) therapy engagement within constructs of the Andersen model of behavioral health service utilization. Despite efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase mental health care access, the proportion of Veterans with PTSD who engage in PTSD therapy remains low. Support for therapy from family members and friends could improve Veteran therapy use.MethodsWe applied a multiple methods approach using data from VA administrative data and semi-structured individual interviews with Veterans and their support partners who applied to the VA Caregiver Support Program. We integrated findings from a machine learning analysis of quantitative data with findings from a qualitative analysis of the semi-structured interviews.ResultsIn quantitative models, Veteran medical need for health care use most influenced treatment initiation and retention. However, qualitative data suggested mental health symptoms combined with positive Veteran and support partner treatment attitudes motivated treatment engagement. Veterans indicated their motivation to seek treatment increased when family members perceived treatment to be of high value. Veterans who experienced poor continuity of VA care, group, and virtual treatment modalities expressed less care satisfaction. Prior marital therapy use emerged as a potentially new facilitator of PTSD treatment engagement that warrants more exploration.ConclusionsOur multiple methods findings represent Veteran and support partner perspectives and show that amid Veteran and organizational barriers to care, attitudes and support of family members and friends still matter. Family-oriented services and intervention could be a gateway to increase Veteran PTSD therapy engagement.

Research Priorities to Support Women Veterans' Reproductive Health and Health Care Within a Learning Health Care System.

Research Priorities to Support Women Veterans' Reproductive Health and Health Care Within a Learning Health Care System.

Michigan Market Referral Coordination Initiative: a Regional Market Approach to VA Specialty Care

BackgroundThe Maintaining Internal Systems and Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018 was created in response to reports of prolonged wait times for veterans accessing health care within the Veterans Affairs (VA) system. In Michigan, the MISSION Act Community Care Program led to an increased number of veterans receiving specialty care outside the VA system, in part due to the complicated process of coordinating specialty care within the VA system. From 2018 to 2020, the percentage of veterans referred to the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (AA) for specialty care from its two referring facilities, Battle Creek VA Medical Center (BC) and Saginaw VA Healthcare System (SAG), decreased from 54.4 to 27%.ObjectiveImprove the number of Michigan veterans choosing VA specialty care.InterventionIn 2021, three VA facilities in Michigan (AA, BC, and SAG) created a market-level referral system named the Michigan Market Referral Initiative (MMRCI). This unique approach used a centralized nurse-driven team to manage specialty referrals, working directly with the veteran to explore both VA and community care (CC) options.Main MeasuresReferrals triaged and acceptance rates for VA care were tracked. The localized Standard Episode of Care model was used to estimate cost savings. Post-intervention AA patient wait times were compared to local CC wait times.Key ResultsIn the 14 months after implementation of the MMRCI, the rate of veteran retention increased by 32.4%. The estimated dollars retained within the VA by MMRCI efforts was $24,105,251 as of 7/1/2022. Post-intervention AA wait times were superior to community care except in 3 specialties.ConclusionsThis multifacility effort is an example of a highly coordinated, veteran-centered collaboration that has led to successful retention of veterans within the VA system with resultant large-scale cost avoidance and comparable clinic wait times. Focusing on central care coordination and veteran engagement in the referral process are keys to its success, along with leveraging existing referral patterns between nearby VA facilities. This model could be extrapolated to other VA markets throughout the country where similar relationships exist.

Veteran Engagement in Survey Research to Prevent Suicide.

Suicide rates among veterans remain high, underscoring the necessity of identifying modifiable suicide risk and protective factors that can be targeted through public health approaches. One way to ensure that survey-based research yields information necessary to translate findings into patient-centered interventions is through veteran engagement. The current manuscript describes perspectives of members of a national Veterans Engagement Board (VEB) in contributing to the Assessing Social and Community Environments with National Data (ASCEND) for Veteran Suicide Prevention project. Contributions have included strengthening communication with potential veteran participants, addressing sensitive survey topics such as firearms and suicide, and ensuring that ASCEND is responsive to current national and global events. Additionally, Veterans Engagement Board members described the personal impact of engagement. These contributions highlight the value of veteran engagement as an integral component of suicide risk and prevention research.

Multiphase Veteran Engagement to Develop a Spinal Cord Injury Employment Survey.

Spinal cord injury is a condition that adversely impacts employment and economic stability. The Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey (KFNEDS) was developed to understand the experience of striving to work among persons with disabilities. However, this survey was not intended to capture the employment experiences of veterans living with spinal cord injury. The aim of this study was to engage veterans living with a spinal cord injury to adapt the KFNEDS for veterans living with this specific disability. Describe the process and outcomes of actively engaging veterans living with spinal cord injury in the revision of the KFNEDS. In this multiphase qualitative study, we used an iterative veteran-centered approach to engage veterans living with an SCI in all project phases. We consulted with a Veterans' hospital's Veteran Engagement Group and convened a study-specific Community Action Board to engage in a collaborative partnership with the research team. We recruited 17 veterans living with a spinal cord injury, employed or looking for employment since their spinal cord injury, to participate in focus groups and cognitive interviews that informed the adaptation of the KFNEDS-VS. A provisional version of the KFNEDS-VS included 37 survey questions in the following sections: Disability Screen, Employment Screen, Disability, Employment Overall, Looking for Work, At Work, and Workplace Accommodations and Supports. Revisions included wording changes for clarity, veteran and spinal cord injury-specific content that was missing from the questions or response options, and removal of irrelevant questions. Engaging veterans in multiple phases of the study lead to the development of a relevant survey that captures the lived experience of veterans seeking, obtaining, and maintaining employment following spinal cord injury.

Multi-Phase Veteran Engagement to Develop a Spinal Cord Injury Employment Survey.

Multi-Phase Veteran Engagement to Develop a Spinal Cord Injury Employment Survey Denise C. Fyffe, PhD, Bridget A. Cotner, PhD, Lisa Ottomanelli, PhD, Ashleigh Quinn, BS, Deveney Ching, MA, Conner T. Clark, BA, Paul J. Tobin, MSW, and John O'Neill, PhD What Is the Purpose of this Study/Review? • To adapt an employment survey for veterans living with spinal cord injury (SCI). • To describe the process and outcomes of actively engaging veterans living with SCI in the revision of an employment survey. What Is the Problem? • Seeking, obtaining, and maintaining employment are some of the most difficult economic challenges reported by persons living with an SCI. • Few SCI employment studies have examined striving to work strategies used by veterans with SCI to overcome employment barriers. • Although there are employment surveys for people living with disabilities, none exist for veterans living with an SCI. • This project will adapt an existing employment survey to better understand the employment experiences of veterans living with SCI who are striving to work. What Are the Findings? • Veterans described the following barriers looking for and at work: 1) concern about losing government assistance or benefits; 2) employers assumed you cannot do the job because of your disability; and 3) negative attitudes on the part of supervisors and co-workers. • Veterans described the following ways to overcome barriers: 1) strong social networks; 2) supportive supervisors and co-workers; and 3) strategies to manage and prevent medical complications. • Engaging veterans in multiple phases informed the revisions of an employment survey about the lived experience of veterans seeking, obtaining, and maintaining employment after a SCI. Who Should Care Most? • Veterans living with a SCI. • Employers of veterans living with SCI. • Vocational rehabilitation service employees. • Rehabilitation researchers and clinicians interested in using a veteran-centered approach to improve employment outcomes of veterans living with SCI. [End Page e3] Recommendations for Action • Engage veterans living with SCI throughout the research process, from planning to disseminating, to improve survey tools and other outcomes. • The strategies used in this study to engage veterans living with SCI may be applied to research with other disability groups: 1) involve existing stakeholder groups, 2) create a study-specific engagement group, and 3) collaborate with participants to inform study procedures and materials. [End Page e4] Denise C. Fyffe Kessler Foundation New Jersey Medical School Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Bridget A. Cotner James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital and Clinics Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida Lisa Ottomanelli James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital and Clinics Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program, Department of Child and Family Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida Ashleigh Quinn Kessler Foundation Deveney Ching James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital and Clinics Conner T. Clark Kessler Foundation Paul J. Tobin Quality of Life Advisors John O'Neill Kessler Foundation New Jersey Medical School Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Copyright © 2023 Johns Hopkins University Press

Development and Initial Testing of a Brief, Integrated Intervention Aimed at Reducing Heavy Alcohol Use and PTSD among Military Veterans in Primary Care.

There is a need for integrated treatment approaches that address heavy alcohol use and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) concurrently among Veterans as interactions between heavy drinking and PTSD are frequent. Veteran engagement in specialty mental health services after referral is limited with poorer outcomes following empirically-supported, exposure-based PTSD treatments that do not explicitly address alcohol use. The current project aimed to incorporate two evidenced-based interventions: Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI) with Prolonged Exposure for Primary Care (PE-PC) for Veterans with heavy drinking and PTSD. Delphi methodology was applied to adapt an intervention protocol using subject matter expert (SME) feedback to guide the refinement of a preliminary treatment manual. The newly developed brief intervention (PC-TIME) was then tested in an open trial (n=9) to gather Veteran participant feedback to modify the treatment manual.Two rounds of SME feedback resulted in 80% agreement that manual content was "acceptable as-is" across all intervention domains. The resulting protocol is a five-session, integrated intervention with session 1 primarily focused on alcohol use reduction and sessions 2-5 consisting of narrative exposure and in-vivo exercises for PTSD symptoms with brief alcohol use check-ins. Open trial results indicated high Veteran acceptance of PC-TIME structure and content, and reductions in heavy drinking and PTSD symptoms. Preliminary data suggest PC-TIME to be a promising approach for treatment of heavy alcohol use and PTSD. A pilot randomized controlled trial is necessary to demonstrate the intervention's efficacy with Veterans in a PC setting.

Supplemental Material for Mental Health Therapy for Veterans With PTSD as a Family Affair: A Qualitative Inquiry Into How Family Support and Social Norms Influence Veteran Engagement in Care

Supplemental Material for Mental Health Therapy for Veterans With PTSD as a Family Affair: A Qualitative Inquiry Into How Family Support and Social Norms Influence Veteran Engagement in Care

Measurement-based care in Veterans Health Administration mental health residential treatment.

In 2016, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) launched the Measurement-Based Care (MBC) in Mental Health Initiative to support the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) across mental health services to increase veteran engagement and promote collaborative treatment planning. The present study reported on the administrations of PROMs across all residential stays within the VHA's Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019 (N = 29,111). We subsequently explored a subsample of veterans attending substance use residential treatment during the same period who completed the Brief Addiction Monitor-Revised (BAM-R; Cacciola et al., 2013) at admission and discharge (n = 2,886) to determine the feasibility of using MBC data for program evaluation. The rate of residential stays with at least one PROM was 84.49%. We also identified moderate to large treatment effects on the BAM-R from admission to discharge (Robust Cohen's d = .76-1.60). There is frequent use of PROMs in VHA mental health residential treatment programs with exploratory analyses demonstrating significant improvements for veterans in substance use disorder residential treatment. Considerations for the appropriate use of PROMs in the context of MBC are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).