Abstract

A study was undertaken to evaluate the use of video teleconference technology (VTEL) for delivery of patient self-management education and preventative care services to reduce stroke risk factors among Veterans receiving primary care services at Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in a five state (VISN 16) service region. Methods: Focus group, survey, and pre/post test methods identified factors associated with feasibility and effectiveness of implementation during this formative evaluation. A sample of (N=30) Veterans with a history of stroke or with multiple stroke risk factors were recruited from CBOCs in VISN 16 in a two-phase study. Phase 1 participants, measures described the effectiveness of VTEL to affect patients' self-management skills, stroke risk knowledge, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Results: Most Veterans were male, age was greater than 50 years, were diagnosed with four or more chronic conditions, and lived alone without the assistance of a caregivers. Their Stroke Scorecard assessments ranged from 12 to 18; health related quality of life was reported as difficult -- they accomplished less physically and emotionally. Ninety-five percent of participants attended all educational sessions and set and accomplished self-management action plans. Access to care was facilitated by implementation VTEL within the community, reducing travel by 86 miles on average. Veteran's agreed or strongly agreed that VTEL program participation was effective in identifying, understanding and taking self-management actions to reduce their to reduce their risk of stroke. Focus group themes and triangulation outcomes will be discussed. Conclusions: The use of VTEL at local CBOCs for group patient self-management education and for specialty clinic visits enhances access to these types of care services for rural Veterans. Participants were very satisfied with Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) specialty practice of secondary stroke prevention extended to rural settings via VTEL.

Description

41st Biennial Convention - 29 October-2 November 2011. Theme: People and Knowledge: Connecting for Global Health. Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.

Author Details

Jane A. Anderson, PhD; Pamela Willson, RN, PhD, FNP, BC, CNE

Sigma Membership

Unknown

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Chronic Disease, Video Teleconferencing

Conference Name

41st Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Grapevine, Texas, USA

Conference Year

2011

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Share

COinS
 

Evaluation of video teleconferencing technology to provide chronic disease self-management access for rural veterans

Grapevine, Texas, USA

A study was undertaken to evaluate the use of video teleconference technology (VTEL) for delivery of patient self-management education and preventative care services to reduce stroke risk factors among Veterans receiving primary care services at Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in a five state (VISN 16) service region. Methods: Focus group, survey, and pre/post test methods identified factors associated with feasibility and effectiveness of implementation during this formative evaluation. A sample of (N=30) Veterans with a history of stroke or with multiple stroke risk factors were recruited from CBOCs in VISN 16 in a two-phase study. Phase 1 participants, measures described the effectiveness of VTEL to affect patients' self-management skills, stroke risk knowledge, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Results: Most Veterans were male, age was greater than 50 years, were diagnosed with four or more chronic conditions, and lived alone without the assistance of a caregivers. Their Stroke Scorecard assessments ranged from 12 to 18; health related quality of life was reported as difficult -- they accomplished less physically and emotionally. Ninety-five percent of participants attended all educational sessions and set and accomplished self-management action plans. Access to care was facilitated by implementation VTEL within the community, reducing travel by 86 miles on average. Veteran's agreed or strongly agreed that VTEL program participation was effective in identifying, understanding and taking self-management actions to reduce their to reduce their risk of stroke. Focus group themes and triangulation outcomes will be discussed. Conclusions: The use of VTEL at local CBOCs for group patient self-management education and for specialty clinic visits enhances access to these types of care services for rural Veterans. Participants were very satisfied with Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) specialty practice of secondary stroke prevention extended to rural settings via VTEL.