Ulmer CS, et al. – The physicians aimed to investigate Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care provider (PCP) perceptions of the availability of insomnia treatments, identify specific strategies offered by PCPs, and explore perceptions regarding the importance of treating insomnia and the role of comorbid conditions. This study pointed to the need for systems–level changes within health care systems, including the adoption of evidence–based clinical practice standards for insomnia and PCP education regarding the processes that maintain insomnia.

• The physicians conducted a survey within the VA health care system.
• For this study, primary care providers completed surveys electronically.

• In this study, a high percentage of veterans (modal response = 20% to 39%) observed in VA primary care settings described an insomnia complaint to their provider.
• In the medical record, almost 50% of respondents did not consistently document insomnia (46% endorsed “sometimes,” “rarely,” or “never”).
• PCPs routinely advised sleep hygiene recommendations for insomnia (ie, avoid stimulants before bedtime [84.3%], and keep the bedroom environment quiet and dark and comfortable [68.6%]) and many were uncertain if cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia was available at their facility (43.1%).