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Uphold CR, Bober J, Freytes IM, Matos-Toro M, Wing KL, Romero S, Hannold EM, Barak S. Implementation Science Study to Improve Readjustment of Puerto Rican OEF/OIF Veterans and Families. Poster session presented at: AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting; 2008 Jun 9; Washington, DC.
Background/Objective: Over 10,000 men and women have been deployed from Puerto Rico (PR) to serve in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. No known investigative team has developed education interventions for this special subgroup of OEF/OIF veterans and their families. Because culture has a far-reaching effect on how one interprets experiences, processes new information, and learns to adapt, it is critical that OEF/OIF education materials are evaluated, adapted to meet the needs of the PR population, and then translated into PR Spanish. Our objective was to develop and evaluate culturally-relevant educational materials to improve readjustment of OEF/OIF veterans and their families living in Puerto Rico. Methods: A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was used to engage community members (veterans, family members, health care providers) in all phases of the project. Step 1: Conducted a review of literature and evaluated existing patient education materials from journals, brochures, websites, and from our champions/partners in Puerto Rican to identify available resources and gaps. Step 2: Adapted the educational materials based on the reviews and findings of qualitative interviews with 8 veterans and 8 family members and collaborations with community partners. Step 3: Evaluated the adapted education materials, which were translated into Spanish, in focus group interviews with 19 healthcare providers and 10 veterans. Results: 1) Over 300 patient education documents were collected and organized in a computer database, the Seamless Transition Resources and Information for Veterans and Educators (STRIVE), 2) We developed 12 consumer guides or Fact Sheets that were written in PR Spanish, included PR symbols (i.e., flag symbols/colors, coquí), and were targeted to veterans, family members, and employers, 3) Social marketing techniques, such as consistent branding, graphics, positive statements, brief messages, bullets to emphasize main points, and a summary section (“remember”) were successfully used, 4) Community-based participatory research approaches were used to establish buy-in and to develop culturally-relevant materials, 5) Based on evaluations, modifications were made to finalize the materials, 6) Veterans’ Feedback about the Post-Deployment Fact Sheets. Impacts: Educational products to reduce disparities in the health care of a traditionally underserved population were developed: 1) Twelve Spanish-language Fact Sheets created specifically for PR OEF/OIF veterans and families to help them with the postdeployment readjustment process, 2) Seamless Transition Resources and Information for Veterans and Educators (STRIVE) database, 3) Development of a strong, ongoing collaboration between researchers and practitioners in the VA North Florida/ South Georgia Veterans Healthcare System and the VA Caribbean Healthcare System.
