A new engagement strategy in a VA-based family psychoeducation program.
OBJECTIVE
This brief report describes the engagement strategy used in the Reaching out to Educate and Assist Caring, Healthy Families (REACH) program, a nine-month family psychoeducation program for veterans with serious mental illness or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).


METHODS
A motivational interviewing-based strategy was created and implemented in a Veterans Affairs hospital to engage providers and veterans and their families into the intervention.


RESULTS
Of the 1,539 veterans told about the program, 41% had a family member living nearby and were willing to meet with a provider to learn more. REACH providers met with 505 veterans for a motivational-interviewing session to explore family participation. Of the 436 veterans who were eligible to participate in REACH, 28% of veterans with PTSD, 34% of veterans with an affective disorder, and 25% of veterans with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder went on to participate in at least one session of the REACH program with a family member; these rates compare favorably with those for programs requiring a much shorter commitment.


CONCLUSIONS
This engagement strategy shows promise as an effective tool in recruiting veterans and their families into family psychoeducation.
Sherman
Michelle D
MD
Department of Psychology, Oklahoma City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 921 N.E. 13th St. (116A), Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. michelle.sherman@va.gov
Fischer
Ellen
E
Bowling
Ursula B
UB
Dixon
Lisa
L
Ridener
Lauren
L
Harrison
Denise
D
D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D001523:Mental Disorders; D009042:Motivation; D009825:Oklahoma; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs