Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment for Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Combat Veterans Through a Civilian Community-Based Telemedicine Network

Abstract

Findings reveal a trend expressing the equivalence of telemedicine and face-to-face therapy when treating OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD among rural populations by a community provider. It further demonstrates the successful collaboration between a community healthcare provider and the military healthcare system.

Factors influencing the adoption of telemedicine for treatment of military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder

“…"General interest/acceptance by veterans" was discussed in 7 out of 66 occurrences (10%) (13,14,27,31,33,35,36).…”

“…This facilitator was identified in 6 out of 68 (9%) occurrences (14,18,19,27,29,30). Maintaining a good relationship between the provider and patient through telemedicine may be difficult, as the in-person contact is removed; however, 3 out of 68 occurrences (4%) identified "unaffected patient-provider relationship" as a facilitator to telemedicine adoption among veterans with PTSD (22,27,33). "Patient independence/autonomy" was identified in 3 out of 68 occurrences (4%) (14,17,36).…”

“…Veterans residing in rural populations, especially, had difficulty obtaining access to technology or high-speed internet. Another major barrier authors observed during the analysis was the "availability of physicians with competence in PTSD treatment", identified in 4 out of 20 occurrences (20%) (26,27,36,37). "Complications with technology" was another significant barrier, identified in 4 out of 20 occurrences (20%) (16, 30, 35, 36).…”

“…mobile devices, tablets, laptops, desktops) to which most veterans have access, telemedicine provides promising convenience to this population (6,7,9,17,18,27). Similarly, the literature indicated that most veterans viewed telemedicine software on their devices as easy to use and helpful in their treatment, even when they were not communicating directly with a physician.…”

“…Veterans expressed that comfort, trust, connection, and helpfulness remained regardless of the lack of in-person contact (22,27,33).…”