Two subcontracts with the Pacific Health Research and Education Institute have been awarded to Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. through funding from the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), an office of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC). Dr. Kerry Evers, Senior Vice President at Pro-Change is proud to be working with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the Pacific. “I think all of us are committed to finding ways to give back to those Veterans who have served on our behalf,” she said. “This work allows us to apply our evidenced-based behavior change strategies to the Veteran population and examine their effectiveness.
The first grant, “Computerized Tailored Interventions for Behavioral Sequelae of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans” will use Pro-Change’s evidence-based URAC Gold Award winning Stress Management, Depression Prevention, and Smoking Cessation programs, customized for military Veterans who are at risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The aim of this project is to enhance the emotional and physical well-being of Veterans, particularly those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The goal of the study will be the reduction of stress, depression, smoking, and PTSD symptomology through the use of online computerized tailored interventions.
The second grant, Cell Phone Based Expert Systems for Smoking Cessation, will use Pro-Change’s evidence-based URAC Gold Award-winning Smoking Cessation program customized for the Veteran population with added personalized feedback through text messaging. “Mobile phones represent a new channel for tailored information to be delivered quickly and inexpensively,” notes Dr. Patricia Jordan, Principal Investigator of the project. “According to recent statistics, almost nine out of ten adults own a wireless or cell phone, and 15% own a Blackberry, Palm, or other Personal Digital Assistant. There is no reason that we cannot be reaching out to people wherever they may be to provide effective teleheath in a number of areas.”
A 3-month randomized control pilot will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the program to facilitate greater progress to quitting smoking compared to a Computer Tailored Intervention (CTI) assessment and feedback report only. This is the first study to adopt a smoking cessation Internet-based CTI combined with text messaging to change smoking behavior in military Veterans.
About the Pacific Health Research and Education Institute
The Pacific Health Research and Education Institute (PHREI) is an affiliate of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (PIHCS). In that role, PHREI develops and conducts research and education programs to address the health and health care needs of Veterans throughout the Pacific. Specific areas include PTSD and its impact on the Veteran, their family members, and their community. For more information, please visit www.phrei.org.