title: E-mental health preferences of Veterans with and without probable posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Mental health care practices supported by electronic communication, referred to as e-mental health, offer ways to increase access to mental health resources. In recent years, e-mental health interventions using clinical video teleconferencing, Internet-based interventions, social networking sites, and telephones have emerged as viable, cost-effective methods to augment traditional service delivery. Whereas some research evaluates attitudes about e-mental health, few studies have assessed interest in using these approaches in a contemporary sample of U.S. Veterans. This study sought to understand willingness to use e-mental health in a diverse group of Veterans residing in Hawaii. Mailed surveys were completed by 600 Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans and National Guard members. Results suggest that overall willingness to use e-mental health ranged from 32.2% to 56.7% depending on modality type. Importantly, Veterans who screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were significantly less likely to report willingness to use each e-mental health modality than their peers without PTSD, despite their greater desire for mental health services. These results suggest that despite solutions to logistical barriers afforded via e-mental health services, certain barriers to mental health care may persist, especially among Veterans who screen positive for PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pacific Islands Health Care System, Honolulu, HI;
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Whealin
authors.forename: L Alana
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Seibert-Hatalsky
authors.forename: Jennifer Willett
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061108:Social Media; D060756:Social Networking; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine; D060145:Text Messaging; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049269:Videoconferencing
keywords: OIF/OEF; Veterans; barriers to care; e-mental health; posttraumatic stress disorder; preferences; rural health; technology; telemental health; treatment accessibility