title: Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans' health care needs and their underuse of health care resources: implications for psychiatric-mental health nurses.
abstract: U.S. Veterans who have served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars have combat-related medical and mental health issues, notably posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, but underuse health care resources. To better understand their health care needs, resource use, and facilitators and barriers to seeking health care, a literature review was conducted. The results suggest high prevalence of mental and medical health issues and disproportionate use of quantitative research design that lacked approaches to understanding the psychosocial, cultural, and contextual factors that affect help-seeking by Veterans. Strategies to increase the likelihood that Veterans will seek needed health care, gaps in the literature, and the need for further research are discussed.
authors: Uchenna
authors: U
authors: Nworah
authors: Lene
authors: L
authors: Symes
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Young
authors: Rae
authors: R
authors: Langford
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology