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Open Access 01-07-2013 | Original Research

Women Veterans’ Healthcare Delivery Preferences and Use by Military Service Era: Findings from the National Survey of Women Veterans

Authors: Donna L. Washington, MD, MPH, Bevanne Bean-Mayberry, MD, MHS, Alison B. Hamilton, PhD, MPH, Kristina M. Cordasco, MD, MPH, MSHS, Elizabeth M. Yano, PhD, MSPH

Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Special Issue 2/2013

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

The number of women Veterans (WVs) utilizing the Veterans Health Administration (VA) has doubled over the past decade, heightening the importance of understanding their healthcare delivery preferences and utilization patterns. Other studies have identified healthcare issues and behaviors of WVs in specific military service eras (e.g., Vietnam), but delivery preferences and utilization have not been examined within and across eras on a population basis.

OBJECTIVE

To identify healthcare delivery preferences and healthcare use of WVs by military service era to inform program design and patient-centeredness.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

Cross-sectional 2008–2009 survey of a nationally representative sample of 3,611 WVs, weighted to the population.

MAIN MEASURES

Healthcare delivery preferences measured as importance of selected healthcare features; types of healthcare services and number of visits used; use of VA or non-VA; all by military service era.

KEY RESULTS

Military service era differences were present in types of healthcare used, with World War II and Korea era WVs using more specialty care, and Vietnam era-to-present WVs using more women’s health and mental health care. Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) WVs made more healthcare visits than WVs of earlier military eras. The greatest healthcare delivery concerns were location convenience for Vietnam and earlier WVs, and cost for Gulf War 1 and OEF/OIF/OND WVs. Co-located gynecology with general healthcare was also rated important by a sizable proportion of WVs from all military service eras.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings point to the importance of ensuring access to specialty services closer to home for WVs, which may require technology-supported care. Younger WVs’ higher mental health care use reinforces the need for integration and coordination of primary care, reproductive health and mental health care.

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Title: Women Veterans’ Healthcare Delivery Preferences and Use by Military Service Era: Findings from the National Survey of Women Veterans
Authors: Donna L. Washington, MD, MPH
Bevanne Bean-Mayberry, MD, MHS
Alison B. Hamilton, PhD, MPH
Kristina M. Cordasco, MD, MPH, MSHS
Elizabeth M. Yano, PhD, MSPH
Publication date: 01-07-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine / Issue Special Issue 2/2013
Print ISSN: 0884-8734
Electronic ISSN: 1525-1497
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-012-2323-y

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ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

OBJECTIVE

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

MAIN MEASURES

KEY RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS

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