INTRODUCTION: Since September 11, 2001, over 2.5 million military service members have been deployed to combat zones to support operations in the War on Terror and over 250,000 service members transition out of the military every year (United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2022). Evidence-based research suggests that this cohort of post-9/11 combat veterans can struggle with community reintegration and associated functional difficulties in the areas of disruption of identity, challenged beliefs about self and others due to trauma and moral injury, occupational disengagement, and limitations with social and role participation.
OBJECTIVES: Many combat veterans find themselves returning home by a different way, struggling to find their place in the civilian world while maintaining their identity as a warrior. Occupational therapy can bridge the functional divide between these two worlds by helping modern-day warriors rebuild and reclaim their roles, occupations, and purpose. Master of Two Worlds is an interactive multimedia workbook designed to facilitate posttraumatic growth and community reintegration for post-9/11 combat veterans in the VA system with or without a mental health diagnosis.
METHOD/APPROACH: The workbook uses Campbell’s (2008) Hero’s Journey framework to help veterans form a cohesive life narrative, determine new goals, and acquire civilian occupational skills. Readers will be able to access interactive multimedia videos and activities with their cell phones through QR codes in the workbook. Practical hands-on workbook activities focus on self-care, habit and routine formation, spirituality, and social and leisure participation, as well as integrating roles and identity to empower mastery of the military and civilian worlds. A mixed-methods pilot study will be conducted at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System (VALBHS). Quantitative data will be collected pre- and post-intervention using the following standardized outcome measures: Military to Civilian Questionnaire (M2C-Q), the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory – Expanded version (PTGI-X). Qualitative data will be collected via one-on-one interviews.
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES: Successful community reintegration of post-9/11 combat veterans through forming a new civilian occupational identity that integrates the warrior experiences as expressed through establishing healthy habits and routines, developing new priorities, goals, and possibilities for the future, redefining personal moral code to heal from moral injury, establishing a close social support network, and finding a sense of personal strength. Results and or Practice Implications: It is hypothesized that results will demonstrate statistically significant score changes on the outcome measures. Dissemination of the workbook will take place through an interdisciplinary community of practice on the national VA level and through key VA staff at strategic clinics within the system.
CONCLUSION: Combat is a form of trauma. Posttraumatic growth and community reintegration are the ultimate successful outcomes of war trauma. It is incumbent on practitioners in occupational therapy to facilitate these outcomes for the betterment of those who have served and for society.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/45064 |
| Date | 26 August 2022 |
| Creators | Frame, Angela Louise-Ursillo |
| Contributors | Jacobs, Karen |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Page generated in 0.0027 seconds