Native American Veterans Attitudes, Perceptions, and Beliefs about PTSD

Question Title

* 1. Washington State University (College of Education, Counseling Psychology) Consent Form
Study Title: Native American Veterans' Perceptions, Knowledge, and Attitudes toward Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Available Treatment
Researchers:
Dr. Phyllis Erdman, Ph.D, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Education (509) 335-1738
Greg Urquhart, B.A, co-investigator, graduate student, College of Education
Sarah Sevedge, LMHC, M.A., co-investigator, graduate student, College of Education
Matthew Hale, B.A., co-investigator, graduate student, College of Education

You are being asked to take part in a research study, conducted by Greg Urquhart, Sarah Sevedge,Matthew Hale, Nasreen Shah and ,Dr. Phyllis Erdman. The research team includes Native American veterans and individuals experienced in working with veterans and Native American veterans. This form explains the research study and your part in it, if you decide to participate. Please read the form carefully, taking as much time as you need. If you participate in the study, you can change your mind later or quit at any time. There will be no penalty or loss of services or benefits if you decide not to participate or quit the survey. This study has been reviewed for human subject participation by the Washington State University Institutional Review Board.

What is the study about? This study is being conducted to explore the perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes among active and former Native American service-members of the United States armed services regarding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). You are being asked to participate because we value your opinion, experience, and perceptions as a service-member. You do not need to have experienced any symptoms of PTSD in order to participate. The survey will take about 10-15 minutes. If you choose to participate, you will be asked to answer questions regarding your perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes of PTSD and similar combat stress disorders and their treatment.

Question Title

* 2. The potential benefits to you for taking part in this survey are: you will be contributing to and increasing the general base of knowledge regarding PTSD and its treatment among Native American Veterans. You will be given the opportunity to contribute your knowledge and opinions to this area of study, and if you choose to share your contact information at the end of the survey, you may be notified of newly developed treatment programs and information as it becomes available. Potential risks to you for taking part in this survey are nothing beyond a typical survey. They could include fatigue and/or irritation.

The data for this study will be kept confidential to the extent allowed by federal and state law. No published results will identify you as you will not be required to disclose your name or other personal identifying information. You will, however, have the opportunity to share your contact information if you wish to be notified of potential treatment programs that may be developed using the information gathered in this survey. If you share identifying information, it will be kept private and will only be used for contact regarding future treatment opportunities. Other researchers from Washington State University's Counseling Program may have access to the survey program, but your information will be kept confidential. The results of this study may be published or presented at professional meetings, but the identities of all research participants will remain anonymous. The data for this study will be kept for three years. There will be no cost to you for taking part in this survey. You will not receive money or any other form of compensation for your participation.

If you have questions about this survey or the information within, please contact any of the researchers listed above. If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or would like to report a concern or complaint about this study, please contact the Washington State University Institutional Review Board at (509) 335-3668, or e-mail irb@wsu.edu, or regular mail at: Albrook 205, PO Box 643005, Pullman, WA 99164-3005.

Do you agree to participate in this survey?

Yes

Question Title

* 3. Age

18-25

26-35

36-45

46-55

55+

Question Title

* 4. Gender

Male

Female

Other

Question Title

* 5. Which race or ethnicity do you identify with? Check all that apply.

Caucasian

Asian/Pacific Islander

African or African American

Native American/American Indian/First Peoples

Hispanic/Latino

Other

Question Title

* 6. Please complete ONE answer that most closely represents your Native American heritage:

Enrolled member of:

Descendent of:

Not an enrolled member or descendent but am affiliated with these additional Tribes:

Question Title

* 7. To what extent do you identify with your Native culture?

Not at all

Somewhat

Very much

Not at all

Somewhat

Very much

Question Title

* 8. In which branch of the military did you or do you serve? Check all that apply.

Navy

Army

Coast Guard

Marine Corps

Airforce

Question Title

* 9. In which theater of operation did you serve? Check all that apply.

Southwest Asia (Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East, etc.)

East Asia (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Korea, etc.)

Pacific (including Pacific Islands)

Europe

Africa

South America

United States

Other

Question Title

* 10. Length of service:

Less than 1 year

1-2 years

3-4 years

5-10 years

10+ years

Question Title

* 11. Number of deployments:

3-4

5-10

10+

Question Title

* 12. Which of the following terms are you familiar with? Check all that apply:

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Combat Stress

Combat Fatigue

Acute Stress Disorder

Agoraphobia

Anxiety Disorder

Depressive Disorder

Shell Shock

Soldier's Heart

None of these

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 13. Which of the following terms do you use most frequently? Check all that apply:

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Combat Stress

Combat Fatigue

Acute Stress Disorder

Agoraphobia

Anxiety Disorder

Depressive Disorder

Shell Shock

Soldier's Heart

None of these

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 14. How would you rate your overall knowledge of PTSD on the following scale?

No knowledge

Moderate to average

Very knowledgeable

No knowledge

Moderate to average

Very knowledgeable

Question Title

* 15. Who do you think generally experiences symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Check all that apply:

Military

First responders

Victims of crime

Victims of abuse

Sexual assault victims

Survivors of natural disasters

Witnesses of violence

Accident survivors

None of above

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 16. Have you experienced any of the following uncomfortable or negative symptoms related to combat or other potentially violent or threatening experiences? Check all that apply:

Night terrors

Nightmares

Hyper vigilance

Insomnia

Anger

Irritability

Feelings of loneliness or isolation

Avoidance of crowds

Flashbacks

Panic attacks

Heightened startle response

Avoidance of reminders

Trouble focusing

Trouble readjusting to civilian life

I have not experienced any of these symptoms

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 17. Are you aware of others who have experienced these symptoms?

Yes

Question Title

* 18. Have you ever been diagnosed with any of the following as a result of your military service, training, and/or combat experiences? Check all that apply:

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Anxiety Disorder

Depressive Disorder

Acute Stress Disorder

Agoraphobia

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 19. Have you told anyone about this diagnosis? Check all that apply:

Spouse

Family

Friends

Other service members

Treatment professionals

Clergy

Elders

Does not apply, no diagnosis

I have not told anyone about this diagnosis

Question Title

* 20. Who do you think would be most likely to notice someone having the symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? Check all the apply:

Spouse

Family

Friends

Other service members

Treatment professionals

Clergy

Elders

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 21. Do you think you qualify for a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Yes

Unsure

Question Title

* 22. Are you aware of others who have been diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Yes

Unsure

Question Title

* 23. Did this change your perception of this person?

Yes

Unsure

Question Title

* 24. Did your perception of this person change positively or negatively?

Positively

Negatively

Unsure

Did not change

Question Title

* 25. Did this person receive any form of treatment for their symptoms?

Yes

Unsure

Question Title

* 26. How common do you believe Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is in the Native American veteran population?

Uncommon

Average

Very common

Uncommon

Average

Very common

Question Title

* 27. Do you think that most people who suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder receive adequate treatment?

Yes

Unsure

Question Title

* 28. Which of the statements about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) do you agree with? Check all that apply:

All military service members have PTSD

PTSD is a sign of weakness

PTSD is a common reaction to an uncommon event or circumstance

Anyone can potentially experience PTSD

People with PTSD are violent and unpredictable

PTSD can contribute to problems with family

Once people develop PTSD they will never recover

PTSD can contribute to the use of drugs or alcohol

PTSD is related to higher rates of suicide

There are effective treatments for PTSD

Question Title

* 29. How likely are Native American veterans to not seek treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for the following reasons?

	Unlikely		Somewhat likely		Very likely
Not wanting to appear weak	Not wanting to appear weak Unlikely	Not wanting to appear weak	Not wanting to appear weak Somewhat likely	Not wanting to appear weak	Not wanting to appear weak Very likely
Treatment does not work	Treatment does not work Unlikely	Treatment does not work	Treatment does not work Somewhat likely	Treatment does not work	Treatment does not work Very likely
Lack of treatment options	Lack of treatment options Unlikely	Lack of treatment options	Lack of treatment options Somewhat likely	Lack of treatment options	Lack of treatment options Very likely
Fear of consequences	Fear of consequences Unlikely	Fear of consequences	Fear of consequences Somewhat likely	Fear of consequences	Fear of consequences Very likely
Unaware of this diagnosis	Unaware of this diagnosis Unlikely	Unaware of this diagnosis	Unaware of this diagnosis Somewhat likely	Unaware of this diagnosis	Unaware of this diagnosis Very likely
Denial that a problem exists	Denial that a problem exists Unlikely	Denial that a problem exists	Denial that a problem exists Somewhat likely	Denial that a problem exists	Denial that a problem exists Very likely
Drug or alcohol use	Drug or alcohol use Unlikely	Drug or alcohol use	Drug or alcohol use Somewhat likely	Drug or alcohol use	Drug or alcohol use Very likely
Fear of what others think	Fear of what others think Unlikely	Fear of what others think	Fear of what others think Somewhat likely	Fear of what others think	Fear of what others think Very likely
Do not believe in PTSD diagnosis	Do not believe in PTSD diagnosis Unlikely	Do not believe in PTSD diagnosis	Do not believe in PTSD diagnosis Somewhat likely	Do not believe in PTSD diagnosis	Do not believe in PTSD diagnosis Very likely
Discomfort with PTSD diagnosis	Discomfort with PTSD diagnosis Unlikely	Discomfort with PTSD diagnosis	Discomfort with PTSD diagnosis Somewhat likely	Discomfort with PTSD diagnosis	Discomfort with PTSD diagnosis Very likely
Lack of available resources	Lack of available resources Unlikely	Lack of available resources	Lack of available resources Somewhat likely	Lack of available resources	Lack of available resources Very likely

Question Title

* 30. Have you ever sought treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Yes

Unsure

Question Title

* 31. Did you try any of the following treatment options? Check all that apply:

Individual counseling

Group counseling

Family counseling

Self-help support group

Spiritual/religious guidance

Unsure

Other (please specify)