Veterans Service Organizations and My HealtheVet (MHV)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01597843 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: May 14, 2012
Results First Posted
: September 12, 2014
Last Update Posted
: April 28, 2015
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Hypertension Hyperlipidemia Coronary Artery Disease Diabetes Mellitus | Other: Education | Not Applicable |
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE: Despite the promise of electronic health resources, there is evidence that they have not led to the improved self management that many envisioned. There is evidence for this from a variety of sources, including the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Although there is appropriate attention to improving the functionality and ease of use of the system, a key barrier is patient acceptance and familiarity. Peer support, particularly in group settings, can improve health-related behaviors. Such approaches may increase and improve MHV use.
OBJECTIVES: Our goal in the present project is to develop and test a peer-based mechanism to increase MHV use by member of veterans service organizations (VSO) such as the American Legion. The investigators will address 3 specific aims:
- To demonstrate that trained members of VSO can provide basic MHV education and support within their VSO unit using mobile computers.
- To demonstrate that this intervention increases MHV registration, in person authentication (IPA), and reported use of MHV among veteran post members.
- To create clear, concise, and portable resources that will make it possible to replicate this process in other VSO units or other community settings.
METHODS: This implementation study is a quasi-randomized intervention with delayed controls. Working with the leadership of selected veterans groups, the investigators will identify 12 posts that have the appropriate resources and interests to serve as pilot posts for the present project. The investigators will train 2 peer mentors (super-users or SU) from 4 of these posts using adaptations of the peer training approach the investigators used for a previous project. The investigators will work with the SU to install computers with wireless broadband Internet access at their posts. The investigators will load the computers with software that documents unique sessions, sites visited, and amount of time at each site. The investigators will help the SU provide lessons regarding MHV use to his/her fellow post members at 4 monthly post meetings. After 4 months, the investigators will move the computers to the next 4 posts and repeat the intervention. Finally, the investigators will move the computers to the last 4 posts, providing remote support and our training materials to the SU at those posts. The investigators will use computer tracking data, surveys, focus groups, and interviews to assess the impact of the program. The investigators will test changes in registration, IPA, and use with before and after surveys. Our analysis will adjust for clustering within posts. The investigators will transcribe our focus groups and interviews verbatim and analyze them using a case study approach.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 282 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Official Title: | Working With Veterans Organizations to Encourage Use of My HealtheVet |
Study Start Date : | June 2012 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 2013 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | January 2014 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: First educational intervention group
Group that receives intervention first. The intervention is a series of training sessions, in person and on line, to educate post superusers who will in turn educate post members on the utility and mechanics of use of MHV.
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Other: Education
Series of training sessions, in person and on line, to educate post superusers who will in turn educate post members on the utility and mechanics of use of MHV.
Other Name: Post education
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Experimental: Second intervention group
This arm receives a series of training sessions over study months 6-9. The training sessions are in person and on line and are directed at post superusers who will in turn educate post members on the utility and mechanics of use of MHV. They complete survey rounds 1 and 2 before the training and survey round 3 after the training.
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Other: Education
Series of training sessions, in person and on line, to educate post superusers who will in turn educate post members on the utility and mechanics of use of MHV.
Other Name: Post education
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No Intervention: Education after data collection complete
This group received a similar intervention, but after all quantitative data collection complete.
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- Registration for MHV [ Time Frame: Baseline; After Group 1 Intervention; After Group 2 Intervention ]Measured by response to question: Have you ever used My HealtheVet online?

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Senior) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
Two steps, first a post is enrolled, then a member participates.
Post eligible if:
- The post leadership agrees that the post will support participation.
- Two or more members of the post agree to serve as MHV super-users.
- There is an identifiable location within the post for the computer.
Member eligible if:
- Member of post
- Attends the meeting at which the survey is administered
Exclusion Criteria:
- Does not consent to survey
- Does not attend meeting where survey administered

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01597843
United States, Wisconsin | |
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI | |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53295-1000 |
Principal Investigator: | Jeffrey C Whittle, MD MPH | Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI |
Additional Information:
Responsible Party: | VA Office of Research and Development |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01597843 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
RRP 11-408 |
First Posted: | May 14, 2012 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | September 12, 2014 |
Last Update Posted: | April 28, 2015 |
Last Verified: | February 2014 |
Keywords provided by VA Office of Research and Development:
education self care peer group Computers Attitude to computers |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Diabetes Mellitus Coronary Artery Disease Myocardial Ischemia Coronary Disease Hyperlipidemias Hyperlipoproteinemias Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases |
Endocrine System Diseases Heart Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Arteriosclerosis Arterial Occlusive Diseases Vascular Diseases Dyslipidemias Lipid Metabolism Disorders |