An education intervention to improve knowledge of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and treatments among U.S. women service members and veterans
APA Citation:
Proctor, D. M., Emmons, K. R., & Scannell-Desch, E. (2023). An education intervention to improve knowledge of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and treatments among U.S. women service members and veterans. Military Medicine, 188(1-2), 368-373. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usab514
Focus:
Programming
Trauma
Veterans
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Reserve
Guard
Subject Affiliation:
Veteran
Guard/Reserve member
Methodology:
Quantitative study
Authors:
Proctor, Denise M., Emmons, Kevin R., Scannell-Desch, Elizabeth
Abstract:
Introduction Due to decades of prolonged combat operations, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is widely discussed and generally well conceptualized. The objective of this study was to determine if an educational program on the signs and symptoms of PTSD and an explanation of the current treatments utilized by the Veterans Administration is effective in increasing the knowledge levels of women service members and veterans, leading to seeking treatment. Materials and Methods The design of this study was a quantitative pretest/posttest interventional study. The educational program was conducted at a Senior Citizen Center. The population was a purposive sample of 44 women service members and veterans from a military base in New Jersey. A 25-item PTSD Knowledge Questionnaire developed for the earlier Web-Based Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Education for Military Family Members (2012) study was used as the pretest and posttest. Results The knowledge level of PTSD among women service members and veterans who participated in this study was significantly higher after completing the educational program with 43% indicating that they would seek mental health care. Conclusions Women service members and veterans were ill-informed on the signs, symptoms, and treatment options of PTSD. If the results of this survey are an indicator of the knowledge level of women service members in broader populations, there is a need to restructure how those who are at risk of developing PTSD are educated. Through better educational programs, women and men could seek care with increasingly favorable long-term outcomes.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Oxford University Press
Publication Type:
Article
Author Affiliation:
Rutgers University-Camden, DNP
Rutgers University-Camden, KRE
Rutgers University-Camden, ESD
Keywords:
educational program, post-traumatic stress disorder, women service members, veteran, treatment