The receipt of prevention services by veterans using VA versus non-VA facilities.
OBJECTIVE
This paper compares the health promotion/disease prevention services received by veterans who reported receiving 90%+ of their care inside Veterans Health Administration (VA) facilities with counterparts who reported receiving 90%+ of their care outside VA facilities. Results are compared with the U.S. Healthy People 2000 goals.


METHODS
Random samples were drawn of 300 men and 150 women visiting primary care clinics in six VA facilities. A 66% adjusted response rate was achieved after two mailings (n = 1,703). For this analysis, those veterans who reported receiving 90%+ of their care inside VA facilities (n = 909) were compared with veterans who reported receiving 90%+ of their care outside VA facilities (n = 185).


RESULTS
Of the 13 health promotion¿disease prevention services, 6 were significantly influenced by source of care. Five of the significant differences reflected statistically higher prevalence rates for those receiving 90%+ of their care inside the VA (mammograms and counseling for alcohol, nutrition, exercise, and seatbelt use). One reflected a higher prevalence rate for those receiving 90%+ of their care outside the VA system (tetanus boosters).


CONCLUSIONS
Veterans receiving 90%+ of their care in VA facilities obtained more preventive services than counterparts using non-VA providers. Assessment and counseling services need to be targeted to more veterans to comply more fully with U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and Healthy People 2000 objectives.
Rabiner
D J
DJ
Veterans Administration Medical Center, 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705, USA.
Branch
L G
LG
Sullivan
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*