UMMS Affiliation

Division of Health Informatics and Implementation Science, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences; Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences

Publication Date

2022-01-25

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Health Services Administration | Health Services Research | Infectious Disease | Military and Veterans Studies | Telemedicine | Virus Diseases

Abstract

Background: Committed to implementing a person-centered, holistic (Whole Health) system of care, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) developed a peer-led, group-based, multi-session "Taking Charge of My Life and Health" (TCMLH) program wherein Veterans reflect on values, set health and well-being-related goals, and provide mutual support. Prior work has demonstrated the positive impact of these groups. After face-to-face TCMLH groups were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, VHA facilities rapidly implemented virtual (video-based) TCMLH groups.

Objective: We sought to understand staff perspectives on the feasibility, challenges, and advantages of conducting TCMLH groups virtually.

Methods: We completed semi-structured telephone interviews with 35 staff members involved in the implementation of virtual TCMLH groups across 12 VHA facilities and conducted rapid qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts.

Results: Holding TCMLH groups virtually was viewed as feasible. Factors that promoted the implementation included use of standardized technology platforms amenable to delivery of group-based curriculum, availability of technical support, and adjustments in facilitator delivery style. The key drawbacks of the virtual format included difficulty maintaining engagement and barriers to relationship-building among participants. The perceived advantages of the virtual format included the positive influence of being in the home environment on Veterans' reflection, motivation, and self-disclosure, the greater convenience and accessibility of the virtual format, and the virtual group's role as an antidote to isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion: Faced with the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, VHA pivoted by rapidly implementing virtual TCMLH groups. Staff members involved in implementation noted that delivering TCMLH virtually was feasible and highlighted both challenges and advantages of the virtual format. A virtual group-based program in which participants set and pursue personally meaningful goals related to health and well-being in a supportive environment of their peers is a promising innovation that can be replicated in other health systems.

Keywords

health coaching, implementation and dissemination, qualitative, support group, telemedicine, veterans

Rights and Permissions

Copyright © The Author(s) 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

DOI of Published Version

10.1177/21649561211064244

Source

Anderson E, Dvorin K, Etingen B, Barker AM, Rai Z, Herbst A, Mozer R, Kingston RP, Bokhour B. Lessons Learned From VHA's Rapid Implementation of Virtual Whole Health Peer-Led Groups During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Staff Perspectives. Glob Adv Health Med. 2022 Jan 25;11:21649561211064244. doi: 10.1177/21649561211064244. PMID: 35106189; PMCID: PMC8795823. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Global advances in health and medicine

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

35106189

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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