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Preventive services in veterans in relation to disability.
Alyson J Littman1, Thomas D Koepsell, Christopher W Forsberg
1Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, VA Puget Sound Medical Center, 1100 Olive Way, Metropolitan Park West, Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. alyson@u.washington.edu
Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
|July 10, 2012
Summary
Veterans with disabilities receive preventive care, including vaccinations and screenings, at similar rates to those without disabilities. This study suggests disability is not a barrier to essential healthcare services for veterans.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Healthcare Access
- Veterans Affairs
Background:
- Veterans with disabilities face higher risks for secondary health issues.
- Access to preventive services may vary for veterans receiving care within and outside the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between disability status and the receipt of preventive healthcare services among veterans.
- To identify potential disparities in preventive care access based on disability and VA utilization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2003-2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys.
- Analyzed receipt of various preventive services (e.g., vaccinations, screenings, counseling) in relation to veteran disability status and VA care use.
Main Results:
- Veterans with disabilities were more likely to receive influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, weight management counseling, and serum cholesterol screening.
- Receipt of services like fecal occult blood tests and cervical cancer screening was similar across disability groups.
- No preventive measure showed significantly lower receipt among veterans with disabilities compared to those without.
Conclusions:
- Disability status among veterans does not appear to be a significant barrier to accessing appropriate preventive healthcare services.
- Findings support equitable access to preventive care for disabled veterans, regardless of VA facility use.
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