Utilization and Intensity of Outpatient Care Related to Military Sexual Trauma for Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq

• Published in: The journal of behavioral health services & research 2012-07, Vol.39 (3), p.220-233
• Main Authors: Turchik, Jessica A., Pavao, Joanne, Hyun, Jenny, Mark, Hanna, Kimerling, Rachel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Afghan Campaign 2001; Ambulatory Care Facilities - utilization; Civilians; Community and Environmental Psychology; Female; Females; Freedom; Gender; Health; Health Care Surveys; Health Informatics; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Health Psychology; Health services utilization; Helpseeking; Humans; Iraq; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Logistic Models; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental Health Services - utilization; Middle Aged; Military personnel; Military Personnel - psychology; Military Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Military service; Outpatient care facilities; Outpatient treatment; Post traumatic stress disorder; Primary care; Psychiatry; Public Health; Sex crimes; Sex Distribution; Sex Offenses - psychology; Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data; Sexual Harassment - psychology; Sexual Harassment - statistics & numerical data; Sociodemographics; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology; Studies; Trauma care; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Veterans; Veterans - psychology; Veterans - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1094-3412; 1556-3308
• DOI: 10.1007/s11414-012-9272-4

Little research has examined factors associated with the utilization of outpatient health care services related to sexual assault experiences. The Veterans Health Administration provides free outpatient treatment services to veterans who report military sexual trauma (MST); this system provides a unique opportunity to examine factors related to the utilization of mental health and non-mental health outpatient services by patients with sexual trauma. The current study examined sociodemographic, military service factors, and primary diagnoses related to utilization and utilization intensity of MST-related care among 4,458 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans in a 1-year period after reporting an experience of MST. Of the veterans who reported MST, 75.9% received MST-related care. The most notable factor that influenced receipt and intensity of MST-related care was gender, where male veterans used less care than female veterans. These results have important treatment implications for both veteran and civilian sexual trauma survivors.