Reassessment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (2022) / Chapter Skim
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9 Use for Supporting Communications and Outreach
9 Use for Supporting Communications and Outreach
Pages 217-238
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From page 217... ...
develop a public information campaign to inform eligible individuals about the open burn pit registry, including how to register and the benefits of registering; and (D) periodically notify eligible individuals of significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits." PL 115-232 requires that the Department of Defense (DoD)
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From page 218... ...
Given that VA's current communication and outreach activities build on earlier efforts, the chapter begins with a review of the initial assessments committee's findings on the registry's communication and outreach activities. The chapter then describes the role of Health Outcomes Military Exposures (HOME)
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From page 219... ...
After the 2016 communication strategy (reviewed in the initial assessment report) , HOME subsequently developed a new communication strategy for military exposures, the HOME Broad Communications Plan, that includes airborne hazards and burn pits (see annex at the end of this chapter following the reference list for the complete HOME communication plan)
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From page 220... ...
Dissemination of AH&OBP Registry Communication Products AH&OBP Registry information is disseminated in a variety of ways, including GovDelivery announcements, HOME's biannual Military Exposures & Your Health newsletters (e.g., a recent article, "Allergic Rhinitis and Findings from Burn Pit Registry Participants") , emails to internal stakeholders including environmental health coordinators and clinicians, regular calls with environmental health coordinators and clinicians, and materials on the Internet and VA intranet.
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From page 221... ...
The committee finds that feedback on the questionnaire, while important, does not address whether any new communication materials or outreach activities reach the target audiences or whether the materials and activi ties provide value to registry participants and other veterans and service members. The committee notes that the VA websites for public health, military exposures, and airborne hazards and burn pit exposures, including the webpage for the registry, are passive and require veterans or other users to search
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From page 222... ...
The main goal of these outreach activities, such as the VAntage Point blog, is to maximize registry participation -- rather than to communicate pertinent information to those who have already enrolled -- and to encourage greater participation of "healthy" eligible veterans and service members, including those who were exposed to airborne hazards other than open burn pits. HOME tracks participant enrollment as a measure of outreach success (VA, 2022a)
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From page 223... ...
under Resources, which encourages participation in the registry (also available in Spanish) ; the two-page Health Care Options for Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures factsheet, which highlights joining the registry and getting care for any health conditions (also available in Spanish)
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From page 224... ...
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH FROM VA TO REGISTRY PARTICIPANTS To comply with PL 112-260 § 201, which requires VA to "periodically notify eligible individuals of significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits," HOME conducts numerous communications and outreach activities directed at registry participants. AH&OBP Registry outreach activities are intended to enhance information, education, and services to veterans whether or not they use VA health or benefit services.
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From page 225... ...
. Most of VA's communications regarding airborne hazards, including burn pits, are passive and can be found on the registry's website; however, VA periodically sends messages on important topics and activities to registry participants.
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From page 226... ...
The committee concludes that both VA and DoD have made good efforts to reach and educate their health care providers on the AH&OBP Registry, how to talk with their patients about joining the registry, and how to conduct health evaluations. COMMUNICATIONS FROM REGISTRY PARTICIPANTS TO VA Since establishing the Agent Orange Registry for Vietnam veterans in 1978, VA has used exposure registries as the primary mechanism by which veterans can self-report detailed histories of their deployment exposures and their health concerns.
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From page 227... ...
The committee recommends that VA periodically assess whether its communications and outreach materials and activities provide value to registry participants and health care providers. This assess ment may result in the expansion of the Health Outcomes Military Exposures communication strategy to capture feedback from potential or existing registry participants regarding their concerns or ques tions about the registry, their exposures to airborne hazards, and their health outcomes.
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From page 228... ...
and VSO communicators. Although not considered direct outreach activities, media attention to airborne exposures and the use of burn pits in the Southwest Asia theater, such as coverage on the show The Problem with Jon Stewart and his interview with the secretary of VA, may lead to spikes of interest and additional participants in the registry.
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From page 229... ...
periodically notify eligible individuals of significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits." Although VA has made some efforts to meet the mandate to inform eligible individuals about the registry, it has not, for the most part, been proactive in informing eligible individuals about research developments, the treatment of conditions associated with exposure to airborne hazards, or about new programs and benefits designed for them. Furthermore, with the exception of responses to the questionnaire, registry participants have no mechanism to communicate with VA.
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From page 230... ...
The committee recommends that VA periodically assess whether its communications and outreach materials and activities provide value to registry participants and health care providers. This assess ment may result in the expansion of the Health Outcomes Military Exposures communication strategy to capture feedback from potential or existing registry participants regarding their concerns or ques tions about the registry, their exposures to airborne hazards, and their health outcomes.
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From page 231... ...
However, requiring that participants complete the lengthy registry questionnaire is neither necessary nor recommended for this function. The committee recommends that the AH&OBP Registry serve as a roster of interested service members and veterans to provide a vehicle for them to express their concerns regarding exposure to burn pits and other airborne hazards and potential health outcomes.
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From page 232... ...
Eric Shuping, Director, Post-9/11 Era Environmental Health Program, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, VA to the Committee to Reassess the Department of Veterans Affairs Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits Registry. December 8.
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From page 233... ...
2022c. War Related Illness and Injury Study Center: Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits Center of Excellence.
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From page 234... ...
. • Inform and educate providers about military exposures and associated health topics • Provide an understanding of VA services for Veterans concerned about any potential military exposures, relative to HOME • Disseminate information about research and surveillance activities in support of Veterans of all eras with military environmental exposure concerns • Inform stakeholders about other federal benefits related to military exposures Communications Stakeholders • Veterans o VA users o VA non-users • Family members / caregivers • VSOs • Providers o Within VA o Outside of VA • SecVA • VA staff o VHA o VBA • HOME / WRIISC staff • Congress • Executive Branch Agencies • Other government agencies • Media
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From page 235... ...
Message 4: VA is conducting the following research/surveillance activity to better understand how military exposures impact Veterans' health. Message 5: VA would like you to know that we offer these services and benefits related to your exposure during military service.
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From page 236... ...
announcements to those subscribers to Note: reaches one per month announcement specifically interested public health audiences more in exposure topicstopics: Agent successfully Orange, than social Exposures, media. WRIISC, Gulf War VantagePoint Announce news, profile Veterans Blog views Occasional blog Veterans, highlight Families services VA Share trainings or VA PAOs, who Occasional Communications communications can share with Update resources VA employees HeyVA Announce resources or VA employees Occasional trainings PCS weekly Announce topic - VA PCS For newsletters, news specific updates employees other announcements VHA social Announce topic - Veterans Likes Occasionally media specific information Families Comments Web (VHA posts (Facebook/ page views minimal material Twitter)
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From page 237... ...
pages Media/content Awareness of the latest HOME/ Daily analysis news to identify WRIISC staff opportunities Brochures Provide topic-specific Veterans or Occasionally information Providers Posters Provide topic-specific Veterans or Occasionally information Providers VA TV Provide topic-specific Veterans As appropriate information Defense Health Provide information Other Monthly, as Working group /discussion with stakeholders needed different stakeholders Infographics Provide information in Veterans Web views Depends on an easily Families/ graphic designer understandable format Caregivers resources for the web or Providers newsletters Other stakeholders Video Provide information in Veterans Views Occasionally easily understandable Families/ /depends on format Caregivers outside video Providers production Other resources stakeholders Mailings/direct Send information Veterans Number of As needed mail directly mailings Follow through on actions
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From page 238... ...
238 REASSESSMENT OF THE VA AH&OBP9-5 USE FOR SUPPORTING COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH REGISTRY related to mailings Exposure Ed Provide information on Providers Number of new Ongoing app exposure topics users and new downloads by month E-learning Topic specific Providers (VA, Satisfaction, Ongoing information non-VA) knowledge, completion by medical facility/provider type ACPM Advertise learnings as Providers (VA, Number of Certification part of the certification non-VA)
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