Co‐Design of an Ecosystem of Services to Support Veteran Well‐Being and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption
ABSTRACT Background Alcohol consumption among veterans has been shown to be higher than that among the general population. Many veterans experience difficulties during the transition to post‐service life, and alcohol is used as a coping mechanism. Excessive alcohol use leads to a significant decreas...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Health Expectations |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70262 |
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| author | Julia Carins Ann‐Marie Kennedy Ekant Veer |
| author_facet | Julia Carins Ann‐Marie Kennedy Ekant Veer |
| author_sort | Julia Carins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background Alcohol consumption among veterans has been shown to be higher than that among the general population. Many veterans experience difficulties during the transition to post‐service life, and alcohol is used as a coping mechanism. Excessive alcohol use leads to a significant decrease in mental health, quality of life and social functioning, further exacerbating veteran's readjustment to civilian life after service. Objective This study aimed to co‐design a transition programme to reduce problematic alcohol use. The objectives were to (1) understand which life domains need to be considered within programmes to support successful transition without harmful alcohol consumption and (2) co‐design a transition programme with New Zealand veterans (and service providers) to avoid harmful alcohol consumption. Design This study offers a novel approach to the development of programmes to reduce excessive alcohol consumption by veterans through the use of a participatory design method. The study involved four co‐design workshops with veterans and Defence health professionals, in Aotearoa‐New Zealand, and abductive analysis of qualitative data. The analysis compared perspectives obtained from veterans and health professionals with existing well‐being and transition frameworks. Results Findings supported recommendations within those frameworks for strategies to support mental, physical, social/family and spiritual well‐being, as well as finding meaningful work or employment. Themes emerged beyond those frameworks, including a need for programmes to manage loss of identity; lack of trust, scepticism and stigma; and a desire for connected records and networked services. Conclusions The research offers practical recommendations for a co‐designed veteran well‐being ecosystem. This involved early prevention, in‐service elements and ongoing support through transition and in post‐service life. This was supported with the suggestion for a network of services that is promoted well and makes it easy for veterans to identify services that can increase their feeling of competence as they navigate transition. Patient or Public Contribution This study used a co‐design process that engaged veterans and Defence health professionals in the design of a programme and programme elements that they would like to see for veterans like themselves or veterans they have encountered in practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a393a6a38d3d42dc86d571e2b4c40c0c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1369-6513 1369-7625 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Expectations |
| spelling | doaj-art-a393a6a38d3d42dc86d571e2b4c40c0c2025-08-20T02:26:13ZengWileyHealth Expectations1369-65131369-76252025-04-01282n/an/a10.1111/hex.70262Co‐Design of an Ecosystem of Services to Support Veteran Well‐Being and Reduce Excessive Alcohol ConsumptionJulia Carins0Ann‐Marie Kennedy1Ekant Veer2Department of Tourism and Marketing Griffith University Brisbane AustraliaDepartment of Management, Marketing and Tourism University of Canterbury Christchurch New ZealandDepartment of Management, Marketing and Tourism University of Canterbury Christchurch New ZealandABSTRACT Background Alcohol consumption among veterans has been shown to be higher than that among the general population. Many veterans experience difficulties during the transition to post‐service life, and alcohol is used as a coping mechanism. Excessive alcohol use leads to a significant decrease in mental health, quality of life and social functioning, further exacerbating veteran's readjustment to civilian life after service. Objective This study aimed to co‐design a transition programme to reduce problematic alcohol use. The objectives were to (1) understand which life domains need to be considered within programmes to support successful transition without harmful alcohol consumption and (2) co‐design a transition programme with New Zealand veterans (and service providers) to avoid harmful alcohol consumption. Design This study offers a novel approach to the development of programmes to reduce excessive alcohol consumption by veterans through the use of a participatory design method. The study involved four co‐design workshops with veterans and Defence health professionals, in Aotearoa‐New Zealand, and abductive analysis of qualitative data. The analysis compared perspectives obtained from veterans and health professionals with existing well‐being and transition frameworks. Results Findings supported recommendations within those frameworks for strategies to support mental, physical, social/family and spiritual well‐being, as well as finding meaningful work or employment. Themes emerged beyond those frameworks, including a need for programmes to manage loss of identity; lack of trust, scepticism and stigma; and a desire for connected records and networked services. Conclusions The research offers practical recommendations for a co‐designed veteran well‐being ecosystem. This involved early prevention, in‐service elements and ongoing support through transition and in post‐service life. This was supported with the suggestion for a network of services that is promoted well and makes it easy for veterans to identify services that can increase their feeling of competence as they navigate transition. Patient or Public Contribution This study used a co‐design process that engaged veterans and Defence health professionals in the design of a programme and programme elements that they would like to see for veterans like themselves or veterans they have encountered in practice.https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70262alcoholco‐designqualitativesocial marketingveteranswell‐being |
| spellingShingle | Julia Carins Ann‐Marie Kennedy Ekant Veer Co‐Design of an Ecosystem of Services to Support Veteran Well‐Being and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption Health Expectations alcohol co‐design qualitative social marketing veterans well‐being |
| title | Co‐Design of an Ecosystem of Services to Support Veteran Well‐Being and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption |
| title_full | Co‐Design of an Ecosystem of Services to Support Veteran Well‐Being and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption |
| title_fullStr | Co‐Design of an Ecosystem of Services to Support Veteran Well‐Being and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption |
| title_full_unstemmed | Co‐Design of an Ecosystem of Services to Support Veteran Well‐Being and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption |
| title_short | Co‐Design of an Ecosystem of Services to Support Veteran Well‐Being and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption |
| title_sort | co design of an ecosystem of services to support veteran well being and reduce excessive alcohol consumption |
| topic | alcohol co‐design qualitative social marketing veterans well‐being |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70262 |
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