The acceptability and outcomes of a peer- and health-professional-led Stanford self-management program for Vietnam veterans with alcohol misuse and their partners.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the acceptability of peer- and health-professional-led self-management education using the Stanford Program with Australian veterans and their partners.


METHODS
The 6-week program taught problem-solving and decision-making skills to activate healthful behaviors, including action-planning and goal-setting. The evaluation included a participant and facilitator postprogram questionnaire; group interview; and alcohol, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, anger, relationship, and quality-of-life measures as part of a randomized controlled study.


RESULTS
Participants included 25 male veterans with comorbid alcohol dependency, psychiatric and medical conditions, and 18 female partners (n = 43), 61.5% of who reported a chronic condition. The primary outcome was a self-reported improvement in self-management of their conditions in 69% of participants, with another 22.2% reporting that their confidence to self-manage had improved. There was an improvement in all measures at 9 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The program resulted in improvements in lifestyle and confidence in self-management for Vietnam veterans, a cohort difficult to engage in healthy behaviors. Most participants were also accompanied by their partners. The program is a valuable resource for providing self-management education to veterans with alcohol dependency and various chronic conditions and needs to be considered in the suite of rehabilitation programs available to Defense Force personnel, veterans, and their partners.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University.
Jill
J
Beattie
Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University.
Malcolm W
MW
Battersby
Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University.
Rene G
RG
Pols
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010379:Peer Group; D011340:Problem Solving; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology; D058014:Veterans Health