Tsosie U, Nannauck S, Buchwald D, Russo J, Geiss Trusz S, Foy H, Zatzick D. Staying Connected: A Feasibility Study Linking American Indian and Alaska Native Trauma Survivors to their Tribal Communities.
Psychiatry 2011;
74:349-61. [PMID:
22168295 PMCID:
PMC3795506 DOI:
10.1521/psyc.2011.74.4.349]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this investigation was to assess the feasibility of a culturally tailored care management intervention for physically injured American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients. The intervention was initiated at a Level I trauma center and aimed to link AI/AN patients to their distant tribal communities. Thirty AI/AN patients were randomized to the intervention or to usual care. Assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months included self-reported lifetime cumulative trauma burden, Native healing requests, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and alcohol use. Generalized estimating equations ascertained differences between groups over time. Ninety-four percent of eligible patients participated; follow-up at 3 and 6 months was 83%. Participants had high numbers of lifetime traumas (mean = 5.1, standard deviation = 2.6). No differences between the intervention and control groups were observed in posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression symptoms, or alcohol use at baseline or follow-up time points. Among intervention patients, 60% either requested or participated in traditional Native healing practices and 75% reported that the intervention was helpful. This effectiveness trial demonstrated the feasibility of recruiting and randomizing injured AI/AN patients. Future efforts could integrate evidence-based interventions and traditional Native healing into stepped collaborative care treatment programs.
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