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ABSTRACT
Objective: We sought to learn where older veterans seek information about anxiety and coping. Due to increasing use of technology in health care, we also explored benefits and barriers of using technology to teach coping skills.
Methods: Twenty veterans (mean age = 69.5 years, SD = 7.3) participated in semi-structured interviews in which we inquired about where they seek information about anxiety. We explored quantitative and qualitative differences for veterans with high versus low anxiety. In follow-up focus groups, we examined opinions about learning coping skills using technology.
Results: Though veterans primarily named health care professionals as sources of information about anxiety, online searches and reading books were frequently mentioned. Reported benefits of using technology were convenience and standardized instruction of coping skills. Barriers included lack of interaction and frustration with technology usability.
Conclusion: Older veterans use multiple sources, heavily rely on interpersonal sources (e.g., professionals, friends), and employ varied search strategies regarding how to cope with anxiety. Using technology to teach coping skills was generally acceptable to older veterans.
Clinical Implications: Health care professionals could guide patients towards credible online and book sources. Providing instruction about using technology may help older adults use technology to learn coping skills.
Funding
This work was supported by a Career Development Award (IK2 RX001478; PI: Gould) from the United States (U.S.) Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service. Dr. Gould also received support from Ellen Schapiro and Gerald Axelbaum through a 2014 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose related to the manuscript. Views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Federal Government.