Soldiers' preferences for follow-up communications with behavioral health providers.
BACKGROUND
Recent research has shown value in utilizing follow-up communication with patients to improve long-term outcomes of behavioral health, particularly among the most high-risk patients.


METHODS
We surveyed 38 active-duty Army personnel who were attached as behavioral health patients to a Warrior Transition Unit at a large military installation to ask their preferences for follow-up communication to behavioral healthcare.


RESULTS
Strongest preferences for contact were (1) personal cellphone, (2) text message, and (3) e-mail to non-work account. Because of frequent endorsement of stigma as a barrier to behavioral health treatment in this population, we also evaluated the influence of stigma on follow-up preferences.


CONCLUSIONS
"High-stigma" participants indicated less favor for a personal note from a behavioral healthcare provider following treatment, although both high- and low-stigma participants agreed it was a "good idea" for a provider to e-mail a link to a Web site with relevant information about a diagnosis.
National Center for Telehealth and Technology , Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Katherine E
KE
Stanfill
Julie
J
Kinn
Nigel
N
Bush
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D040421:Cell Phone; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference; D057545:Social Stigma; D060145:Text Messaging
behavioral health; e-health; military medicine; mobile health; telehealth