Author ORCID Identifier
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2023
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Health Science
First Advisor
Susan Puumala
Abstract
The purpose of this research study is to learn the beliefs and thoughts on the current state of medical treatment provided to United States (US) military Veterans diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD), and gauge Veterans’ levels of interest and support in the potential application of the Matrix Model of Treatment (MMT) in their healthcare programs. This proposal focused on verifying the Veterans’ interest in the MMT model since the US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) does not currently implement this full-spectrum, 16-week treatment system. It is believed interest will be strong enough to merit supporting its consideration with approving officials at the DVA. Participants included individual US military Veterans with a previous diagnosis of SUD. A survey was distributed to qualified participants to gauge US Veterans’ interests, impacts, and experiences regarding the MMT program. The researcher calculated the frequencies of Veteran participants for each question using statistical analysis and the logistic regression model, and a comparison of the responses was conducted with a non-parametric test. While most of the surveyed Veterans indicated they were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with current treatment methods, their reported relapse rates to substances were high. Also, Veterans conveyed overwhelming interest in trying the MMT program. It was proposed for this study that most participants will show positive interest in MMT. This project’s results provide critical information regarding Veteran feedback for consideration by DVA representatives and other healthcare providers on prevention, diagnosis, intervention, and treatment preferences regarding SUD among US Veterans.
Subject Categories
Counseling Psychology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Public Health Education and Promotion
Keywords
Addiction Counseling and Prevention, Matrix Model of Treatment, Mental Health Counseling, Scientific Assessment, Substance Use Disorder, Veterans
Number of Pages
113
Publisher
University of South Dakota
Recommended Citation
Strunk, Christopher R., "RESEARCHING MEDICAL TREATMENT ASSESSMENTS FROM UNITED STATES MILITARY VETERANS DIAGNOSED WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AND DETERMINING INTEREST IN THE MATRIX MODEL OF TREATMENT FOR POTENTIAL APPLICATION IN THEIR TREATMENT PROGRAMS" (2023). Dissertations and Theses. 148.
https://red.library.usd.edu/diss-thesis/148