Postdeployment health care for returning OEF/OIF military personnel and their social networks: a qualitative approach.
Little is known regarding the health care needs of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) deployed veterans seeking care outside of Veterans Affairs facilities. Responding to this gap, we conducted a mixed methods study of postdeployment health among veterans and members of their social networks in six community-based primary care clinics. A total of 347 patients completed a survey dealing with deployment to Iraq/Afghanistan (whether their own or that of a family member, friend, or coworker), and subsequent psychosocial and health problems. A subset of 52 participants responded to an open-ended question requesting additional information about experiences during and postdeployment. Content analysis of these responses revealed five overarching themes: connectedness, perceptions of conflict, consequences of deployment, health and treatment concerns, and respect and concern for service members/veterans. These data point to significant deployment-related disruptions in the well-being of service members and those in their broader social networks, with implications for defining service needs in community health settings.
Department of Veterans Affairs, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, VERDICT, Health Services Research and Development, 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard, San Antonio, TX 78229-4404, USA.
Erin P
EP
Finley
John E
JE
Zeber
Mary Jo V
MJ
Pugh
Gabriela
G
Cantu
Laurel A
LA
Copeland
Michael L
ML
Parchman
Polly H
PH
Noel
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans; D058014:Veterans Health