Usual Care Among Providers Treating Women Veterans: Managing Complexity and Multimorbidity in the Era of Evidence-Based Practice

Abstract

To better understand VA providers’ approaches to and perspectives on providing care to women Veterans, providers (n = 97) in primary care and mental health settings were interviewed about women’s perceived treatment needs, types of care provided, and perceptions of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for this population. Providers perceived that women Veteran VA users are often diagnostically complex and require a coordinated approach to treatment planning. They struggled with decisions about how to offer services such as EBTs and collaborative care in light of comorbidity and psychosocial stressors, and endorsed the belief that a tailored approach and consideration of these factors is essential in providing care.