Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop after a traumatic event and may impair cognition, mood, behavior, and increase risk of psychiatric illness and suicide (Mann et al., 2024). The lifetime prevalence of PTSD among United States (US) veterans can reach 29% depending on their period of military service (Judkins et al., 2020; Na et al., 2023). Many veterans still do not seek treatment. In a study of 13,824 veterans, less than 50% received PTSD treatment in the year after diagnosis (Grekin et al., 2021). Limited awareness of PTSD treatment options may be a cause. The aim of this dissemination initiative was to increase knowledge of evidence-based PTSD treatment options among veterans and clinicians through education and engagement. The dissemination team (DT; N = 10) included trusted clinicians and veterans with unique ties to the veteran community. Dissemination methods included social media posts, direct emailing, podcasts, etc. Materials included the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s (PCORI) “Psychological and Pharmacological Treatments for Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Systematic Review Update” (Forman-Hoffman et al., 2018), the evidence updates, and infographics created by the team on PTSD treatment options. Analytics were collected from team members to assess the reach of dissemination efforts. DT members also hosted two workshops each for veterans or clinicians with a maximum of 10 participants in each. Team members created and presented a veteran- or clinician-focused presentation based on the systematic review. Pre/post-tests were conducted before/after each workshop to measure the participants’ change in knowledge. Veterans’ (n = 78) knowledge of PTSD treatment options significantly increased after workshop attendance, t(77) = –8.55, p < .001, with mean scores rising from pretest (M = 4.72, SD = 1.77) to posttest (M = 6.82, SD = 1.66). Clinicians (n = 85) also showed a significant increase in knowledge, t(84) = –8.36, p < .001, with scores rising from pretest (M = 4.12, SD = 2.11) to posttest (M = 6.39, SD = 1.95). Social media metrics (likes, comments, reposts, etc.) totaled 4,065,167. Dissemination strategies were effective in engaging and informing the veteran and clinician populations. This initiative shows the importance of educating patients and clinicians on evidence-based treatment options for PTSD, thereby increasing the chances of promoting quality care and favorable clinical outcomes.
Notes
This project was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute® (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EADI-29003). The statements presented in this work are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not represent the views of PCORI, its Board of Governors or its Methodology Committee.
References:
1. Grekin, R., Bohnert, K. M., Grau, P. P., Ganoczy, D., & Sripada, R. K. (2021). Rates and predictors of psychotherapy receipt among U.S. veterans with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 1, 100010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2021.100010
2. Forman-Hoffman, V., Middleton, J. C., Feltner, C., Gaynes, B. N., Weber, R. P., Bann, C., Viswanathan, M., Lohr, K. N., Baker, C., & Green, J. (2018). Psychological and pharmacological treatments for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review update. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US).
3. Judkins, J. L., Moore, B. A., Collette, T. L., Hale, W. J., Peterson, A. L., & Morissette, S. B. (2020). The incidence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder over a 17-year period in active duty military service members. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 33(6), 994–1006. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22558
4. Mann, S. K., Marwaha, R., & Torrico, T. J. (2024). Posttraumatic stress disorder. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559129/
5. Na, P. J., Schnurr, P. P., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2023). Mental health of U.S. combat veterans by war era: Results from the National Health and Resilience in veterans study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 158, 36–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.12.019
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Competence, Mental Health of Veterans, Medical Care of Veterans, Veterans, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Patient Education, Community Education
Recommended Citation
Baldwin, Jacquelyn; Pratt, Beth A.; Peterson, Alan; and Krause-Parello, Cheryl A., "On the Double: Educating Veterans and Clinicians on Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment Options" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 206.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/206
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
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.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-08-24
On the Double: Educating Veterans and Clinicians on Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment Options
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop after a traumatic event and may impair cognition, mood, behavior, and increase risk of psychiatric illness and suicide (Mann et al., 2024). The lifetime prevalence of PTSD among United States (US) veterans can reach 29% depending on their period of military service (Judkins et al., 2020; Na et al., 2023). Many veterans still do not seek treatment. In a study of 13,824 veterans, less than 50% received PTSD treatment in the year after diagnosis (Grekin et al., 2021). Limited awareness of PTSD treatment options may be a cause. The aim of this dissemination initiative was to increase knowledge of evidence-based PTSD treatment options among veterans and clinicians through education and engagement. The dissemination team (DT; N = 10) included trusted clinicians and veterans with unique ties to the veteran community. Dissemination methods included social media posts, direct emailing, podcasts, etc. Materials included the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s (PCORI) “Psychological and Pharmacological Treatments for Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Systematic Review Update” (Forman-Hoffman et al., 2018), the evidence updates, and infographics created by the team on PTSD treatment options. Analytics were collected from team members to assess the reach of dissemination efforts. DT members also hosted two workshops each for veterans or clinicians with a maximum of 10 participants in each. Team members created and presented a veteran- or clinician-focused presentation based on the systematic review. Pre/post-tests were conducted before/after each workshop to measure the participants’ change in knowledge. Veterans’ (n = 78) knowledge of PTSD treatment options significantly increased after workshop attendance, t(77) = –8.55, p < .001, with mean scores rising from pretest (M = 4.72, SD = 1.77) to posttest (M = 6.82, SD = 1.66). Clinicians (n = 85) also showed a significant increase in knowledge, t(84) = –8.36, p < .001, with scores rising from pretest (M = 4.12, SD = 2.11) to posttest (M = 6.39, SD = 1.95). Social media metrics (likes, comments, reposts, etc.) totaled 4,065,167. Dissemination strategies were effective in engaging and informing the veteran and clinician populations. This initiative shows the importance of educating patients and clinicians on evidence-based treatment options for PTSD, thereby increasing the chances of promoting quality care and favorable clinical outcomes.
Description
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is widespread among United States military veterans. Yet, many veterans do not seek treatment after diagnosis, which may be in part due to a lack of knowledge of treatment options. The purpose of this project was to engage and educate veterans and the clinicians who serve them on existing evidence-based treatment options to manage PTSD. The dissemination team used a variety of methods, materials, and workshops to effectively fulfill this purpose.