Preserving Function Among Disability Applicants

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To test the hypothesis that veterans counseled around managing their benefits will work more and have a better quality of life than those receiving non-specific counseling.

Detailed Description
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The aim is to develop and test the efficacy of Benefits Counseling to improve quality of life among veterans who apply for VA benefits. Benefits Counseling involves providing claimants information about rehabilitation and work-related activities, benefits determination and management, and available substance abuse treatment . Benefits Counseling is designed to increase motivation to be active and promote engagement in substance abuse treatment. After enrolling 15 participants in an open-label pilot phase, 300 veterans who are not receiving benefits and are applying to VBA for disability benefits will be randomly assigned to Benefits Counseling or the control condition, VA Orientation, and both groups will be followed for one year. The primary outcome measures will be observer-rated and self-rated quality of life. Secondary outcome measures will include substance use and treatment utilization.

Official Title
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Preserving Function Among Disability Applicants: A Motivational Enhancement Approach to Benefits Counseling

Conditions
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Disability

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Benefits Counseling
* Behavioral: VA Orientation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Applying for VA service connection and not currently receiving VBA benefits. Veterans who have been rated 0% service-connected but do not receive financial benefits are eligible to participate. Able to provide valid consent Age 18-65 Expresses willingness to discuss benefits with a counselor Anticipates difficulty working Exclusion Criteria: Already receiving VA payments Already receiving SSI or SSDI Has a conservator

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 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: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1<br>Benefits Counseling | Behavioral: Benefits Counseling<br>* Help deciding whether to work<br>|
| Active Comparator: 2<br>VA Orientation | Behavioral: VA Orientation<br>* Orientation to services available at VA<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Days engaged in work and work-related activities |  | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| substance use (as measured by days having used illicit drugs, alcohol to intoxication in the preceding days) |  | 6 months | 
| treatment utilization (days in last 30 having participated in rehabilitation and work-related activities, number of days having participated in non-inpatient substance abuse treatment, number of days on any inpatient unit) |  | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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disability, substance abuse, vocational rehabilitation, case management