Who attends Vet-to-Vet? Predictors of attendance in mental health mutual support.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines predictors of attendance in Vet-to-Vet, a peer education intervention for veterans co-located with a professionally-run rehabilitative day program.


METHODS
Participants were 218 veterans receiving services from a VA day program at time of study entry who enrolled in an outcome study of Vet-to-Vet. Using multiple regression analysis, baseline variables were examined as predictors of attendance in Vet-to-Vet over the 9-month study period.


RESULTS
Attendance over 9 months was associated with attending Vet-to-Vet prior to study enrollment, receiving services from the day program at the one-month follow-up, lower scores on a recovery attitude scale, lower scores on activities of daily living, and greater age.


CONCLUSIONS
Co-locating peer education or other mutual support programs with professional mental health services may increase participation, and those with more severe functional disabilities and less recovery orientation may participate more actively.
Resnick
Sandra G
SG
VA New England MIRECC, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. sandy.resnick@yale.edu
Rosenheck
Robert A
RA
D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003255:Consumer Organizations; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D011379:Prognosis; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*