BACKGROUND: To inform the development of a disaster preparedness communication plan for all VA-users, we conducted the VA Preparedness Communications Survey (VAPCS) of VA patients in Northeasterner US, the area affected by Superstorm Sandy. The survey evaluated Veterans’ communication behaviors and preferences for information during future natural disasters. Data collected by VAPCS will be used by VA to outline the steps for disaster communication plan and for developing better ways of reaching Veterans.
METHODS: The 37-question VAPCS was conducted August 15-November 13, 2015. The sample was stratified by age (<45, 45-65, and 65+) and ZIP code (costal/non-costal and rural/urban regions). Younger Veterans were oversampled due to projected lower response rates in that group. To increase participation, the survey was administered using a three-sequential mode approach (web, mail, phone). Participants were asked about previous disaster experiences, personal disaster preparedness, methods of communications used during disasters, frequency and amount of care received from the VA, ways they communicated with VA providers, internet use patterns, and existence of physical impairments. Respondents were also asked to assess the ways they preferred to receive information from VA about future natural disasters. Logistics regressions for top four modalities were fitted to identify predictors of communication for each.
RESULTS: 2,264 non-homeless Veterans completed this survey. The mean age was 63, 93% were males, 78% white, and 18% African–American. 76% of participants heard about disasters on TV: 83% aged 65 +, 74% aged 45-64 and 53% aged <45. About 81% of Veterans aged 65+ used TV as primary source of information to keep updated about disasters, compared to 70% for Veterans aged 45-64, and 44% for those under 45. Veterans of all ages (90%) listed telephone as a helpful for communication during disasters. Compared to the youngest group (<45), older Veterans were more likely to prefer TV (OR=1.69 p<0.05 for 45-65; OR=2.32 p<0.001 for 65+) and radio (OR=1.90 p<0.001 for 45-65; OR=1.59 p<0.05 for 65+). Association was reversed for text; younger Veterans preferred text (OR=0.46 p<0.01 for 45-65; OR=0.09 p<0.001 for 65+) as a way for VA to share information during natural disasters.
CONCLUSIONS: For VA users, age was the most important predictor of an individual’s preferred mode of communication during disasters. Younger Veterans favored email or text, while older Veterans preferred TV or email. It is important for VA to have updated contact information, especially phone numbers and emails, to facilitate contacting VA users during disasters.