The influence of military service on outpatient care use among racial/ethnic groups in Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.
This study examines race-specific military service effects on outpatient care utilization in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) using data from the 1992 National Survey of Veterans. The study population consisted of 4,791 male veterans. After controlling for predisposing, enabling, and need variables, black veterans were 3.7 times more likely than white veterans to use VA outpatient care. Veterans discharged from the military for medical release were less likely to use VA outpatient care (odds ratio = 0.76) than veterans discharged at the end of their normal terms. Hispanic veterans discharged for medical release were 5.3 times more likely than white veterans discharged for the same reason to use VA outpatient care. Korean conflict and mixed war period veterans were more likely to use VA outpatient care than World War II veterans. Racial/ethnic differences in military service characteristics influence the use of VA outpatient care and should be understood in delivering outpatient care to veterans.
Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, CA 90073, USA.
Nancy D
ND
Harada
Valentine M
VM
Villa
JoAnn
J
Damron-Rodriguez
Donna
D
Washington
Takashi
T
Makinodan
Shawkat
S
Dhanani
Herbert
H
Shon
Honghu
H
Liu
Ronald
R
Andersen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*