Assessing and addressing behavioral and physical health status and unmet needs of student Veterans with supported education

Authors

  • Marsha Langer Ellison
  • Elizabeth S. Chamberlin, PhD
  • Sowmya R. Rao, PhD
  • Nidandam Ndiwane, MPH
  • Lisa N. Mueller, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i5.761

Keywords:

Psychiatric rehabilitation; supported education; college; healthcare; Veterans; behavioral health; college health

Abstract

Objective: Assess the behavioral and physical health status and unmet healthcare needs among college student Veterans and the outcomes of a pilot of a supported education intervention on health status and healthcare utilization. Methods: Supported education services were provided to 41 student Veterans seeking help with academic performance at college campuses for up to 1.5 semesters. Results: Thirty-six Veterans (87.8%) met cut-off criteria for one or more behavioral or physical health conditions. Thirty of those (83.3 %) had zero healthcare appointments in the previous six months. Among those with unmet needs, there were larger reductions in the percentage of Veterans with health conditions among the intervention group compared to the control group. A larger proportion of Veterans with unmet healthcare needs in the intervention group reported having at least one healthcare appointment than did Veterans in the control group.

Author Biographies

Marsha Langer Ellison

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

VA Bedford Healthcare System

Elizabeth S. Chamberlin, PhD

VA Bedford Healthcare System

Sowmya R. Rao, PhD

Boston University School of Public Health

Nidandam Ndiwane, MPH

VA Bedford Healthcare System

Lisa N. Mueller, PhD

VA Bedford Healthcare System

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Published

2022-12-21