scholarly journals 2108 Factors associated with dual use of VA and civilian healthcare among U.S. National Guard and Reserve soldiers

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (S1) ◽  
pp. 82-82
Author(s):  
Bonnie M. Vest ◽  
Jessica A. Kulak ◽  
D. Lynn Homish ◽  
Gregory G. Homish

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Approximately 25%–45% of veterans are dual users of VA and civilian healthcare. In order to maximize patient outcomes, understanding factors related to dual use is important. This study examined mental and physical health factors related to dual use of VA and civilian healthcare among U.S. National Guard and Reserve (NG/R) soldiers. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: NG/R soldiers and their partners (n=411 couples) participated in an electronic survey assessing health and health behaviors. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between mental health (anxiety, depression, PTSD, anger), general health, and VA disability status at baseline, with usage of both VA and civilian healthcare among male soldiers (n=109) at the second year follow-up, controlling for age and race. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In the final adjusted models, of the mental health conditions, only anxiety was related to dual use (OR: 1.08, 1.01–1.16, p<0.05). Having a VA disability rating (OR: 4.00, 1.22–13.18; p<0.05) was also related to being a dual user. General health was not related to dual use. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: While research has identified demographic characteristics (e.g., rurality, race, income) related to dual healthcare use, our results indicate that mental health, particularly anxiety, may also be related to dual use. Further study is needed to tease out the prime drivers of dual use to identify future care delivery mechanisms that will maximize treatment outcomes and minimize duplicative care.

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Rees ◽  
Jane Fisher

Approximately 1 in 10 of the current 26 million people who are refugees reside in high-income countries. They have commonly experienced trauma related to violence, insecurity, persecution and shortage of food and medicine. Our research suggests that COVID-19 and its health and social sequalae may be triggering past traumatic reactions, exacerbating mental health problems and undermining functioning. The purpose of this article is to promptly communicate these anecdotal findings to general health practitioners to ensure informed and sensitive health care delivery to this vulnerable population.


2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Walsh ◽  
Gregory Cohen ◽  
Karestan Koenen ◽  
Robert Ursano ◽  
Robert Gifford ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Levita ◽  
Jilly Gibson Miller ◽  
Todd K. Hartman ◽  
Jamie Murphy ◽  
Mark Shevlin ◽  
...  

COVID-19 has led to an unprecedented disruption of normal social relationships and activities, which are so important during the teen years and young adulthood, and to education and economic activity worldwide. The impact of this on young people’s mental health and future prospects may affect their need for support and services, and the speed of the nation’s social recovery afterwards. This study focused on the unique challenges facing young people at different points during adolescent development, which spans from the onset of puberty until the mid-twenties. Although this is an immensely challenging time and there is a potential risk for long term trauma, adolescence can be a period of opportunity, where the teenagers’ brain enjoys greater capacity for change. Hence, the focus on young people is key for designing age-specific interventions and public policies, which can offer new strategies for instilling resilience, emotional regulation, and self-control. In fact, adolescents might be assisted to not only cope, but excel, in spite of the challenges imposed by this pandemic. Our work will feed into the larger societal response that utilizes the discoveries about adolescence in the way we raise, teach, and treat young people during this time of crisis. Wave 1 data has already been collected from 2,002 young people aged 13-24, measuring their mental health (anxiety, depression, trauma), family functioning, social networks, and resilience, and social risk-taking at the time of the pandemic. Here we present a preliminary report of our findings, (Report 1). Data collected 21/4/20- 29/4/20 - a month after the lockdown started).


Author(s):  
Thomas Volken ◽  
Annina Zysset ◽  
Simone Amendola ◽  
Anthony Klein Swormink ◽  
Marion Huber ◽  
...  

Background: COVID-19 containment measures and the uncertainties associated with the pandemic may have contributed to changes in mental health risks and mental health problems in university students. Due to the high burden of the disease, depression is of particular concern. However, knowledge about the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Swiss university students during the pandemic is limited. We therefore assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their change during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large sample of Swiss university students. Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms in two cross-sectional cohorts of university students (n = 3571) in spring and autumn 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with a matched sample of the Swiss national population (n = 2328). Binary logistic regression models estimated prevalence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Adjusted prevalence of depressive symptoms in female (30.8% (95% CI: 28.6–33.0)) and male students (24.8% (95% CI: 21.7–28.1)) was substantially higher than in the matching female (10.9% (95% CI: 8.9–13.2)) and male (8.5% (6.6–11.0)) pre-pandemic national population. Depressive symptoms in the two consecutive student cohorts did not significantly differ. Conclusions: More than a quarter of Swiss university students reported depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was substantially higher as compared to the matched general population. Universities should introduce measures to support students in such times of crisis and gain an understanding of the factors impacting mental health positively or negatively and related to university structures and procedures.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document