title: The Military Health Care System May Have the Potential to Prevent Health Care Disparities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The existence of health disparities in military populations has become an important topic of research. However, to our knowledge, this is the first study to examine health disparities, as related to access to care and health status, among active duty soldiers and their families. Specifically, the purpose of this analysis was to evaluate whether health disparities exist in access to care and health outcomes of patient satisfaction, physical health status, and mental health status according to race, gender, and sponsor rank in the population of active duty soldiers and their family members.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, active duty army soldiers and family members were recruited from either one particular army health clinic where they received their health care or from an adjacent shopping center frequented by eligible participants. Data were collected using validated measures to assess concepts of access to care and health status. Statistical analysis, including one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to investigate differences in study outcome measures across four key demographic subgroups: race, gender, sponsor rank, and component (active soldier or family member).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 200 participants completed the study questionnaires. The sample consisted of 45.5 % soldiers and 54.5 % family members, with 88.5 % reporting a sponsor rank in the category of junior or senior enlisted rank. Mean scores for access to care did not differ significantly for the groups race/ethnicity (p = 0.53), gender (p = 0.14), and sponsor rank (p = 0.10). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed whether respondents were active soldiers or their family members (p = 0.36). Similarly, there were no statistically significant subgroup (race/ethnicity, gender, sponsor rank, or component) differences in mean patient satisfaction, physical health, and mental health scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a health equity system of care such as the military health care system, active duty soldiers and their family members did not experience disparities in access to care or in important health outcomes of patient satisfaction, physical health status, or mental health status.
authors: Novion Analytics, 7112 Montibillo Pkwy, Durham, NC, 27713, USA.
authors: Bosny J
authors: BJ
authors: Pierre-Louis
authors: Center of Nursing Science & Clinical Inquiry, Womack Army Medical Center, 2817 Reilly Road, Fort Bragg, NC, 28310, USA. angelo.d.moore.mil@mail.mil.
authors: Angelo D
authors: AD
authors: Moore
authors: Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors: Jill B
authors: JB
authors: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D066067:Military Family / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Access to care; Health disparity; Health status; Military health care system; Patient satisfaction; Race; Rank; Socioeconomic status