Receptivity to alcohol-related care among U.S. women Veterans with alcohol misuse

ABSTRACT

Previous research indicates women Veterans have a potentially large, unmet need for alcohol-related care but are under-represented in treatment settings. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with women Veterans' receptivity to a recommendation for alcohol-related care when they present to Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care with alcohol misuse. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from 2012–2013 with 30 women Veterans at two VA facilities who screened positive for alcohol misuse during a primary care visit and discussed their alcohol use with their primary-care provider. Qualitative analyses identified 9 themes women used to describe what affected their receptivity to a recommendation for alcohol-related care (i.e., VA specialty substance use disorder services). The most common themes positively associated with women's receptivity included self-appraisal of their drinking behavior as more severe, the provider's presentation of treatment options, availability of gender-specific services, and worse physical and mental health. The themes identified here may have important implications for the clinical strategies providers can use to present alcohol-related care options to women Veterans to facilitate their use of care. These strategies include educating women about the health effects of alcohol misuse and increasing providers' knowledge about available care options (within the care organization or the community), including the availability of gender-specific services.

KEYWORDS:

• Women Veterans
• alcohol misuse
• primary care
• patient perspectives
• treatment receptivity
• qualitative research

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the sacrifices of the people who have served in the U.S. military and thank the Veterans who volunteered to participate in the study. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.

Funding

This research was supported by a Rapid Response Project (RRP 11–436) to Dr. Cucciare by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Substance Use Disorder Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI). This research was also supported by a Career Development Award–2 (CDA 08–004) to Dr. Cucciare, and by a Senior Research Career Scientist Award (RCS 00–001) to Dr. Timko from the VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service. Dr. Hoggatt is funded through a VA HSR&D QUERI Career Development Award (CDA 11–261) at VA Greater Los Angeles.