The Family of Heroes: an Evaluation of an Online Educational Tool

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a unique web based educational tool called Family of Heroes, which is designed to educate families about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and provide them with practical tools for interacting with affected veteran family members. The study includes veterans and a family member of their choosing. Participants are randomly assigned to a group which takes the online training or a group that does not take the training. Both groups complete a baseline questionnaire and a follow up questionaire 60 days later. The study will examine the number of Veteran Affairs (VA) mental health visits.

Official Title
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The Family of Heroes Program for Veterans and Their Families: An Evaluation of an Online Educational Tool for Helping Veterans.

Conditions
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Family of Heroes
* Behavioral: Baseline and Follow up Surveys


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Male or female Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) veteran Positive for PTSD, based on PTSD Checklist (PCL) score greater than or equal to 50 Availability of a family member who is both willing to participate in the study AND has contact with the veteran 3 or more times per week Ability to access a computer with internet access to take educational training and surveys Exclusion Criteria: Not and OIF/OEF veteran Negative for PTSD, based on PCL score less than 50 Unavailability of a family member who is both willing to participate in the study or has contact with the veteran 3 or more times per week Inability to access a computer with internet access to take the educational training and surveys

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Treatment Group<br>Treatment group participates in 1 hour online educational tool in addition to baseline and follow up surveys | Behavioral: Family of Heroes<br>* One hour online educational tool<br>Behavioral: Baseline and Follow up Surveys<br>* Baseline and follow up questionaires completed online<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Non Treatment Group<br>Non Treatment group participates in baseline and follow up surveys | Behavioral: Baseline and Follow up Surveys<br>* Baseline and follow up questionaires completed online<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mental Health Treatment Engagement | Number of mental health visits attended. Obtained from chart review. | 6 months post enrollment | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Perceived Criticism Score | 4 questions answered on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 being not at all critical and 10 being very critical. | Baseline and 2 months | 
| Change in Family Empowerment Scale Score | 12 questions answered on a scale of 1 through 5. 1 = not true at all, 2 = mostly not true, 3 = somewhat true, 4 = mostly true, and 5 = very true. | Baseline and 2 months |