Client Language Analysis in Veterans and Non-Veterans

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

PROJECT:     Client Language Analysis in Veterans and Non-Veterans with Low Motivation to Quit Smoking: Identifying Mechanisms of Change

PROJECT TIMELINE: May 1st, 2022 – April 30st, 2023

GENERAL INFORMATION

Note: The C&A requirements do not apply. A Security Accreditation Package is not required.

1. Background

Veterans disproportionately suffer cigarette-related disease and death relative to the general population, but Veterans often endorse low motivation to quit. Given the high prevalence of smoking in Veterans, identifying therapeutic techniques associated with positive outcomes in unmotivated smokers has great potential to improve Veteran health. Therapies for unmotivated smokers include motivational interviewing (MI), which aims to enhance intrinsic motivation by resolving ambivalence; and health education (HE), which delivers scripted health advice.

1. Project Scope

This project is a secondary analysis of existing session audio recordings from two recently completed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including a large community RCT that was conducted by Co-Investigator, Dr. Delwyn Catley. This RCT resulted in 204 audio-recorded sessions (of participants’ first clinical visit) that utilized either MI (n = 102) or HE (n = 102) as the therapeutic paradigm.

We will transcribe these audio files and then code them using the Motivational Interviewing Skill Code 2.5 (MISC 2.5), a validated MI client language measure. We will also use an extension of this coding system developed by Dr. Delwyn Catley, in order to evaluate sessions for specific HE language.

1. Project Role

As PI of the parent project, Dr. Catley will provide full access to the 204 audio files, plus any transcriptions of those files already completed. Once the transcribing is completed, Dr. Catley will provide invaluable experience in the examination of process data acquired from audio-recorded sessions. Specifically, he will work closely with Dr. Herbst and the investigative team to ensure that the in-session codings are appropriately interpreted based on his knowledge of the study protocol.

Team meetings will occur on a weekly to bi-weekly basis, and Dr. Catley will advise the team throughout the project on study methods and procedures, coding approaches, and interpretation of results. His expertise in smoking cessation, motivational interviewing, behavioral health interventions, and counseling process research will be essential in understanding the client language and its relationship to treatment outcomes, and we will also require his collaboration to assist in drafting a treatment manual incorporating MI and HE techniques designed for unmotivated Veteran smokers.

1. Delivery Location & Requirements:

As the weekly to bi-weekly team meetings will all be held over Zoom, Dr. Catley’s contributions may take place via telephone, email, or other VA-approved virtual systems, if necessary. All audio files and transcriptions will need to be provided within three months of the Project Start Date.

All other responsibilities will end at the project’s deadline, April 30st, 2023.