Goal attainment among veterans with PTSD enrolled in peer-delivered whole health coaching: a multiple baseline design trial

ABSTRACT

The objective was to estimate the efficacy of peer-delivered Whole Health Coaching with individual veterans with PTSD in primary care. This study examined changes in goal attainment before, during, and after peer-delivered Whole Health Coaching using a concurrent multiple-baseline design across participants with replication across cohorts. Ten primary care veterans with symptoms of PTSD were included. The primary outcome, goal attainment, was analysed using multilevel modelling, non-overlap of all pairs (NAP) effect size, and visual inspection. Across all three analyses, peer-delivered Whole Health Coaching was associated with increased and sustained goal attainment in some Veterans with PTSD. Multilevel modelling demonstrated that at the sample level, goal attainment was significantly higher during peer-delivered Whole Health Coaching, t = 2.49, p < .05. Multilevel modelling revealed significant improvement for 4 of 10 participants; NAP and visual inspection demonstrated moderate to large effects for 6 of 10 participants. Peer-delivered Whole Health Coaching may help veterans with PTSD make progress on individualised goals. Future research should replicate these findings and evaluate which participants may be most likely to benefit.

KEYWORDS:

• Peer services
• integrative health coaching
• wellness coaching
• veteran
• PTSD

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the VA Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation for their guidance in delivery of Whole Health Coaching and Saima Khan for her efforts in coordinating this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon written request for reasonable purposes (e.g., re-analysis and validation of results).

Additional information

Funding

The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. This work was supported by Career Development Award, Award # IK1 RX002476 from the United States (U.S.) Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service awarded to Dr Johnson.

Notes on contributors

Emily M. Johnson

Dr Emily M. Johnson is a clinical research psychologist at the Center for Integrated Healthcare. She completed her PhD in clinical psychology at Binghamton University-State University of New York.

Kyle Possemato

Dr Kyle Possemato is the associate director for research at the Center for Integrated Healthcare. She received her PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from Drexel University.

Brian K. Martens

Dr Brian Martens is a professor at Syracuse University. He received his PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Brittany Hampton

Brittany Hampton is a research health science specialist at the Center for Integrated Healthcare.

Michael Wade

Michael Wade is a biostatistician at the Center for Integrated Healthcare.

Matthew Chinman

Dr Matthew Chinman received his PhD in clinical/community psychology from the University of South Carolina. He holds various positions within the VA and is also a senior behavioural scientist at RAND corporation.

Stephen A. Maisto

Dr Stephen Maisto is a senior consultant for research and leadership at the Center for Integrated Healthcare as well as a professor emeritus at Syracuse University. He received his PhD in experimental psychology from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his postdoctoral re-specialisation in clinical psychology from the George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.