title: Effect of September 11th terrorist attacks on the self-reported health status of Department of Defense health care beneficiaries.
abstract: This study examined the changes in the self-reported health status of Department of Defense health care beneficiaries associated with the September 11th terrorist attacks. Responses to a single-item, general health measure from pre- and post-September 11 quarterly survey events for the calendar year 2001 were analyzed to compare the unfavorable health response rates before and after the attacks. Increases in rates of unfavorable health status following the terrorist attacks were reported by the total population and 39 of 44 subgroups examined. Statistically significant increases in unfavorable health were reported by active duty personnel and dependents of active duty personnel; beneficiaries under the age of 44 years; beneficiaries affiliated with the Army and Marines; and beneficiaries in the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West/Central, and Pacific Rim regions. These findings suggest that stress associated with the likelihood of being deployed or having a family member deployed following the terrorist attacks significantly contributed to the increase in unfavorable health response reported on the post-September 11 survey.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Care Management Studies, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs, TRICARE Management Activity, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs, Falls Church, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linton
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hartzell
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D012179:Retirement; D012647:Self-Assessment; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*