title: Veteran experiences related to participation in shared medical appointments.
abstract: Shared medical appointments (SMAs) are an innovative way for multidisciplinary teams to work together to meet veteran needs and encourage adherence to healthy lifestyle recommendations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of veterans who participated in SMAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were utilized to obtain information about SMA experiences. This method encouraged veterans to expand on and clarify the meaning of their experiences. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed by the researchers using N'Vivo software and an exploratory process to obtain consensus about themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following themes emerged as a result of the focus group analysis: "empowerment, peer support, awareness, positive provider characteristics, teamwork, benefits, and convenience."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Veterans reported improvement in their overall health and well-being, improved self-management skills, and satisfaction with the SMA format. Veterans reported feeling empowered to improve their health and described a deep connection with their peers and group leaders. The connection they experienced with other veterans in the SMAs was similar to the close-knit relationships held with other members of their military unit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1970 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, VA 24153, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.forename: Jasbir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mavi
authors.forename: Bridgette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vest
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*