Access to mental health care among women Veterans: is VA meeting women's needs?

Background: Patient-centered access to mental health describes the fit between patient needs and resources of the system. To date, little data are available to guide implementation of services to women veterans, an underrepresented minority within Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) health care. The current study examines access to mental health care among women veterans, and identifies gender-related indicators of perceived access to mental health care.

Military sexual trauma among homeless veterans.

Background: Military sexual trauma (MST) is the Veteran Health Administration's (VHA) term for sexual assault and/or sexual harassment that occurs during military service. The experience of MST is associated with a variety of mental health conditions. Preliminary research suggests that MST may be associated with homelessness among female Veterans, although to date MST has not been examined in a national study of both female and male homeless Veterans.

Military sexual trauma and patient perceptions of Veteran Health Administration health care quality.

Background: Although sexual trauma is associated with poorer patient perceptions of health care quality, few studies have investigated this relationship in settings with comprehensive policies surrounding detection and treatment of sexual trauma, such as the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). We examined the association of military sexual trauma (MST) with patient satisfaction with VHA outpatient care among men and women.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of a national representative sample of 164,632 VHA outpatients (5,758 women and 158,884 men) from fiscal year 2007.

Veterans Health Administration mental health treatment settings of patients who report military sexual trauma.

The comprehensive Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies on military sexual trauma (MST) include provider education and training at each VHA facility. No published data exist that indicate the settings in which VHA mental health patients with MST are treated. Such information could help set priorities for targeted MST-related education and training.