Publication year
2014
Citation Title
Facilitating culture-centered communication between health care providers and veterans transitioning from military deployment to civilian life.
Journal Name
Patient Education and Counseling
Journal Volume
95
Issue Number
3
Page Numbers
414-420
DOI
10.1016/j.pec.2014.03.016
Summary
Reintegration can be a difficult process for Service members, including lots of different changes and adjustments. The experience of readjustment to civilian life after military deployment was examined among 31 OEF/OIF Veterans via semi-structured interviews. Participants articulated tensions between military and civilian cultures and their associated identities during reintegration.
Key Findings
Veterans described challenges with reverse culture shock related to the sociocultural differences between military and civilian cultures.
As Veterans transitioned from military to civilian cultures, they created identities tailored to specific social and cultural contexts (e.g., intrapersonal, professional/educational, interpersonal).
Some Veterans attempted to cope with the challenges by applying military values to their everyday lives.
Many Veterans offered advice for others so they might learn from their experiences.
Implications for Program Leaders
Educate family members about possible changes post-deployment (e.g., Service member communication, family relationships and roles) to prepare them for potential difficulties during reintegration
Offer family activities that encourage Service members to openly communicate with their family members about the reintegration challenges they experience
Provide classes for Service members that facilitate the reintegration process upon homecoming
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support reintegration programming for Service members and their families, both upon homecoming and long-term
Recommend that communities form inter-agency partnerships in an effort to coordinate resources and supports for reintegrating Service members
Encourage the continued tracking of mental health problems among Veterans in order to ensure they are offered the appropriate rehabilitation services
Methods
Veterans who had returned from deployment in the past two years and had a positive screen for a mental health problem were identified via VA databases.
Veterans were contacted by mail and phone, and 43% agreed to participate.
Semi-structured interviews were used to collect information regarding challenges associated with reintegration and coping strategies.
Participants
Participants included 31 Veterans (55% male) who were ages 20-25 years (10%), 26-30 years (45%), 31-35 years (23%), 36-40 years, or over 41 years (13%).
Participants were either in the Army (48%), Navy (26%), Marines (16%), or Air Force (10%).
Service members were 39% White, 23% Multi-racial, 19% Latino, 10% Black, and 10% Asian-American.
Limitations
The response rate was poor (43%), and it is not known how the respondents differ from those who chose not to participate in the study.
The sample consisted only of OEF/OIF Veterans with known mental health problems, and results may not generalize to other Service members.
The framework used to interpret the findings was subjective; other interpretations are possible.
Avenues for Future Research
Conduct a similar study with a population that allows more generalization (e.g., not limited to Veterans with mental health problems or Veterans of specific conflicts) and with other types of data besides exclusively self-report
Explore the similarities and differences between Service members' and family members' perspectives and experiences during the reintegration process
Examine gender differences in the reintegration experience between male and female Service members
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Objective: To describe returning veterans’ transition experience from military to civilian life and to educate health care providers about culture-centered communication that promotes readjustment to civilian life. Methods: Qualitative, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 17 male and 14 female Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Grounded Practical Theory. Results: Veterans described disorientation when returning to civilian life after deployment. Veterans’ experiences resulted from an underlying tension between military and civilian identities consistent with reverse culture shock. Participants described challenges and strategies for managing readjustment stress across three domains: intrapersonal, professional/educational, and interpersonal. Conclusions: To provide patient-centered care to returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, health care providers must be attuned to medical, psychological, and social challenges of the readjustment experience, including reverse culture shock. Culture-centered communication may help veterans integrate positive aspects of military and civilian identities, which may promote full reintegration into civilian life. Practice implications: Health care providers may promote culture-centered interactions by asking veterans to reflect about their readjustment experiences. By actively eliciting challenges and helping veterans’ to identify possible solutions, health care providers may help veterans integrate military and civilian identities through an increased therapeutic alliance and social support throughout the readjustment process.
Abstract Document
Attach