•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Amidst rising rates of costly chronic diseases, a growing emphasis for integrated primary care settings is offering proactive, person-centered, and whole-person care. Through its Whole Health approach, the Veterans Health Administration (VA) is a leading force in this movement. VA’s Whole Health focuses on delivering patient-centered care that engages and empowers Veterans to improve health outcomes. The Personal Health Inventory (PHI) is a brief, whole-person focused, values assessment of what matters most that can lead to personalized health planning. Using a concurrent triangulation (convergent) mixed methods design, we examined the perspectives of 25 post-9/11 Veterans using semi-structured telephone interviews. Qualitative and quantitative questions covered independent PHI completion including acceptability, preferred methods to enhance feasibility (including feedback on a brief introductory overview), and potential impact on healthcare experience. Matrix analysis informed by rapid qualitative analysis was used to analyze responses, and quantitative data were integrated using a joint display. We found that average ratings of acceptability were high across domains for the PHI and independent PHI completion was feasible. The PHI was helpful for prompting reflection and possible action, and highly relevant to what Veterans value in healthcare. Strategies that were identified to improve feasibility and acceptability of independent PHI completion included using the introductory overview piloted with this sample and discussing a completed PHI with the healthcare team. The PHI could help support patient/provider communication and understanding, increase self-awareness and motivation, and help tailor/plan treatment options. Overall, Veterans perceive completion of the PHI as acceptable, feasible, and beneficial. Future directions for research include implementation of the PHI, evaluations of applied use for discussions of what matters most to patients as supported by various members of the integrated primary care team, and expansion to non-VA integrated primary care settings.

Download

Share

COinS