Citation

Garcia HA, Finley EP, Ketchum N, Jakupcak M, Dassori A, Reyes SC. Mil. Med. 2014; 179(3): 273-278.

Affiliation

Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science, PBRN Resource Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard, San Antonio, TX 78229-4404.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States)

DOI

10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00076

PMID

24594461

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In an effort to improve our understanding of perceived treatment barriers among veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) relative to other era veterans, the current study examined veteran attitudes and beliefs about mental health treatment and treatment-seeking, and perceived patient and institution-level logistical barriers to care. METHOD: A survey was conducted among 434 Combat veterans seeking care in nine Veterans Affairs mental health care outpatient clinics. RESULTS: When compared to Vietnam and Gulf War veterans, OEF/OIF veterans were significantly more likely to endorse negative treatment attitudes as possible barriers to care. OEF/OIF veterans were also more likely than Vietnam veterans to endorse conflicting work demands as a potential barrier, although this was the only logistical barrier for which OEF/OIF veterans' responses differed significantly from those of veterans of other eras. Among OEF/OIF veterans, older veterans were more likely than younger veterans to endorse barriers related to cost and time commitments. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest an important role for outreach and engagement strategies that address attitudinal barriers to treatment utilization among veteran populations.

Language: en