Support for Complicated Grief in Military Primary Care: Associations, Challenges, and Opportunities

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective This study examined whether service members and their families engage in communication with their primary care managers (PCMs) regarding their losses and to what extent PCMs provide counseling or referrals for grief-related concerns. Additionally, the study explored the potential associations between ethnicity, age, military status (dependent, service member, or veteran), gender, patients’ disclosure of loss to their PCM, receipt of referrals for grief-related services, and treatment seeking. Methods A survey was administered to 161 patients enrolled in primary care at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, with 138 reporting a significant loss. Bereaved respondents completed the Inventory of Complicated Grief and the Prolonged Grief Disorder-13 Revised scale (PG-13). Respondents were also asked questions related to their loss and their interactions with their PCM related to the loss. Results One hundred twenty-five bereaved respondents completed the measures, 13 had missing information related to PCM interactions. Twenty-nine percent (n = 36) of the 112 respondents reported a significant loss to their PCM. These respondents exhibited significantly higher symptom severity, as indicated by their total mean scores on the Inventory of Complicated Grief and the PG13. Seventeen percent (n = 6) of these respondents reported receiving counseling on topics related to grief or a referral for grief care from their PCM. A moderate relationship was identified between military status and communication with PCM, such that current service members were least likely to report, followed by veterans, then dependents. A moderate relationship was also found between ethnicity and treatment seeking. Conclusion The study’s findings have implications for primary care and highlight opportunities for improved outcomes, including the development of appropriate assessment protocols, interventions, and educational initiatives to address grief-related concerns within the military healthcare system. Future research should further investigate the specific needs and preferences of military personnel and their families to enhance the delivery of targeted and effective healthcare services.