Barriers and facilitators in the pathway to care of military veterans
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Barriers and facilitators in the pathway to care of military veterans
IRAS ID
124560
Contact name
Chris Barker
Contact email
Research summary
It is well known that members of the armed forces returning from combat are at risk of experiencing mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental Health problems and PTSD can have wide ranging implications for the individual and society, and sufferers often go many years without seeking help for their problems. The study will seek to understand the personal, social, and logistical facilitators and barriers to help-seeking for a male veteran population. This information will support the development of clinical services for this population.
The research will take place within the London Veterans’ Assessment & treatment Service (LVS) at the Traumatic Stress Clinic, Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, and through Combat Stress, a charity providing support for veterans experiencing mental health problems. Veterans referred to the services for the first time will be invited to take part in the study.
The first part of the study will involve the participants completing standardised questionnaires assessing the different factors linked to help-seeking. Factors such as help-seeking propensity, time to help-seeking, PTSD and other mental health problems symptom severity, masculinity, self-stigma, social support, and reported barriers to care will be explored. Correlation analysis will be used to assess the relationships between the theoretically linked variables.
In the second part of the study, participants will be asked to indicate/opt in if they would be willing to take part in a semi-structured interview with the researcher at a later date. Qualitative interviews will seek to build on the findings from the first part of the study, as well as exploring participants’ views on what can be done to improve their experience of help-seeking and pathways to care. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0436
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion