Utilization of an Innovative Psychoeducational Group for Veterans With Severe Mental Illness: A Program Evaluation of a Quality Improvement Initiative

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Cognitive impairments—episodes of mania or psychosis, paranoia, and substance use—are common effects of serious mental illness, which can lead to stigmatization, social isolation, and a decrease in interaction with health care providers. These consequences can obstruct a person with serious mental illness ability to comprehend diagnosed mental disorders and to fully participate in treatment. Consistent with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Recovery Model for Disease Management, nurse practitioner residents in a mental health nurse practitioner residency program developed an interactive psychoeducation series to improve veteran health self-efficacy and self-management. OBJECTIVE The overall purpose of this sequential quality improvement initiative was to develop and deliver a psychoeducational series, which is both veteran centric and recovery oriented. METHODS Series I of the project produced psychoeducational sessions based on collaborative interactions among veterans and members of the treatment team, with a focus on neurobiology, pharmacology, and evidence-based treatment recommendations. Through an innovative and interactive framework, Plan–Do–Study–Act cycles were utilized to bring about foundational themes and inherent changes in the psychoeducation delivery. With veterans’ feedback and collaboration, Series II of the project was developed within the continuous improvement evaluations from Series I. RESULTS Treatment collaboration between veterans and providers was fostered as veterans experienced learning, symptom recognition, and empowerment. CONCLUSION This project is unique in that it is the first known review of a quality improvement initiative to incorporate concurrent changes in psychoeducational session delivery, involving veterans and their providers to foster collaboration.