Gender differences in response to deployment among military healthcare providers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
BACKGROUND
Despite their growing numbers in the United States military, little has been published on healthcare providers (HCP) or female service members from conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The purpose of this secondary analysis of data from the 2005 Department of Defense (DoD) Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Active Duty Military Personnel was to determine gender differences in reaction to the impact of operational stress in deployed military healthcare providers.


METHODS
The unweighted study sample selected for this data analysis included results from female and male active duty military personnel over the age of 18 years (n=16,146) deployed at least once to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) within the past 3 years (n=1,425), for a final sample consisting of either officer (healthcare officer) or enlisted (healthcare specialist) personnel (n=455) (weighted n=23,440). Indices of psychologic distress and social relations were explored and compared.


RESULTS
Enlisted female HCPs were more likely to be African American (42.3%) and single (63.0%) and represented the greater percentage with significant psychologic difficulties, as shown by serious psychologic distress endorsement (11.3%) and positive screen results for depression (32.2%). More harmful drinking patterns (Alcohol Use Disorders Identifications Test [AUDIT] score 8-15) were found in more female HCPs (enlisted 61.8%, officers 76.4%) compared with males (enlisted 41.1%, officers 67.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Female HCPs serving in the current military conflicts are reporting significant psychologic distress that may adversely impact their performance within the military, in theaters of operations, and in their lives at home. Implications for clinical care of female service members and veterans of current wars are addressed.
Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA. susannegibbons@verizon.net
Susanne W
SW
Gibbons
Edward J
EJ
Hickling
Scott D
SD
Barnett
Pamela L
PL
Herbig-Wall
Dorraine D
DD
Watts
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D057189:Checklist; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000208:ethnology; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D032024:Personnel Delegation; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data