title: Utilization and intensity of outpatient care related to military sexual trauma for veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq.
abstract: Little research has examined factors associated with the utilization of outpatient health care services related to sexual assault experiences. The Veterans Health Administration provides free outpatient treatment services to veterans who report military sexual trauma (MST); this system provides a unique opportunity to examine factors related to the utilization of mental health and non-mental health outpatient services by patients with sexual trauma. The current study examined sociodemographic, military service factors, and primary diagnoses related to utilization and utilization intensity of MST-related care among 4,458 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans in a 1-year period after reporting an experience of MST. Of the veterans who reported MST, 75.9% received MST-related care. The most notable factor that influenced receipt and intensity of MST-related care was gender, where male veterans used less care than female veterans. These results have important treatment implications for both veteran and civilian sexual trauma survivors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA. jturchik@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Turchik
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pavao
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kimerling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult