Abstract
Evidence indicates that veterans using VA healthcare services have poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Little is
known, however, about differences in HRQOL among those who only use VA services and those who also use non-VA services. We
sought to evaluate differences in HRQOL among veterans who use: (1) only non-VA services (2) only VA services and (3) both
VA and non-VA services (i.e., dual users). A cross-sectional study of 39,942 US veterans who completed the CDC’s 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey was analyzed. Self-rated measures of global health status and the
number of days per month that veterans were limited by physical or mental problems were extracted from BRFSS survey data as
outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that, compared to those receiving all healthcare outside of VA, veterans
receiving VA care were more likely to report poorer health outcomes, including worse global health status, greater impairments
in physical functioning, and increased limitations regarding routine activities (p’s ≤ .05). Both exclusive and dual users of VA services reported poorer HRQOL than individuals not using VA services. More
research is needed regarding veterans’ health status, particularly in the context of dual use.
known, however, about differences in HRQOL among those who only use VA services and those who also use non-VA services. We
sought to evaluate differences in HRQOL among veterans who use: (1) only non-VA services (2) only VA services and (3) both
VA and non-VA services (i.e., dual users). A cross-sectional study of 39,942 US veterans who completed the CDC’s 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey was analyzed. Self-rated measures of global health status and the
number of days per month that veterans were limited by physical or mental problems were extracted from BRFSS survey data as
outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that, compared to those receiving all healthcare outside of VA, veterans
receiving VA care were more likely to report poorer health outcomes, including worse global health status, greater impairments
in physical functioning, and increased limitations regarding routine activities (p’s ≤ .05). Both exclusive and dual users of VA services reported poorer HRQOL than individuals not using VA services. More
research is needed regarding veterans’ health status, particularly in the context of dual use.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s11482-011-9147-5
- Authors
- M. Bryant Howren, VA Iowa City Healthcare System, 601 Hwy 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- Xueya Cai, VA Iowa City Healthcare System, 601 Hwy 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- Gary Rosenthal, VA Iowa City Healthcare System, 601 Hwy 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- Mark W. Vander Weg, VA Iowa City Healthcare System, 601 Hwy 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- Journal Applied Research in Quality of Life
- Online ISSN 1871-2576
- Print ISSN 1871-2584