Web-based post-traumatic stress disorder education for military family members.

OBJECTIVE Since post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common after military deployment and affects both military service members and their families, we sought to both improve PTSD-related knowledge of military family members and to foster actions to help service members with their symptoms. METHODS Focus groups were conducted with military family members and their feedback was incorporated into an educational Web site to improve family members' knowledge of PTSD. We pilot-tested the site and a 25-item questionnaire, then used it to assess the knowledge of 497 family members before and after their use of the Web site. RESULTS Use of this educational Web site improved military family members' PTSD-related knowledge on a 25-item test, with an increase from a mean 13.9 correct responses beforehand to 18.7 after Web site use (p < 0.001; effect size 1.2). In addition, 217 family members returned to the site > or =10 days after their initial visit; 57% had taken actions such as discussing the service member's symptoms with them or persuading them to get medical attention, and 82 to 95% of them believed their actions to be beneficial. CONCLUSION A Web-based intervention can both improve PTSD-related knowledge and foster behavioral changes in military family members.