The Association Between Complementary and Integrative Health Service Use and Completion of a Residential...

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Veteran Health

Background:

• Homeless veterans face unique challenges accessing and completing healthcare programs.
• Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) services offer holistic approaches that may support patient engagement.
• The Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV) program aims to provide comprehensive care for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between CIH service utilization and the successful completion of the DCHV program.
• To determine if CIH use is a predictor of DCHV program completion among veterans.
• To understand the impact of integrative health modalities on veteran healthcare outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 227 veterans enrolled in a DCHV program between September 2021 and September 2023 was analyzed.
• Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to assess the association between CIH encounters and program completion.
• Statistical analyses controlled for potential confounding factors.

Main Results:

• Veterans with 4-6 CIH encounters showed 3.3 times greater odds of DCHV program completion.
• Veterans with 7 or more CIH encounters demonstrated 4.8 times greater odds of program completion.
• A significant positive association was found between the frequency of CIH service use and DCHV program completion.

Conclusions:

• Increased utilization of CIH services is strongly associated with a higher likelihood of DCHV program completion.
• CIH interventions may play a crucial role in improving engagement and success rates in veteran healthcare programs.
• Further research should explore specific CIH modalities and their mechanisms in supporting veteran recovery and program adherence.