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Veterans’ Healthcare – An Ethno-scientific Analysis

Veterans’ Healthcare – An Ethno-scientific Analysis. A Student-Driven Applied Analysis of Medical Anthropology Anthropology Summer Ethnographic Field School 2011 WGVU Studio, Grand Valley State University June 22, 2011. Objectives. Learn and use anthropological methods

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Veterans’ Healthcare – An Ethno-scientific Analysis

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  1. Veterans’ Healthcare – An Ethno-scientific Analysis A Student-Driven Applied Analysis of Medical Anthropology Anthropology Summer Ethnographic Field School 2011 WGVU Studio, Grand Valley State University June 22, 2011

  2. Objectives • Learn and use anthropological methods • Assess healthcare status of veterans in West Michigan • Intervention to improve veterans health & well-being • Share findings with concerned parties

  3. Why is this study important? • 22.7 million veterans in US, over 700, 000 in MI • Veterans not well represented in healthcare literature • Veterans may not be receiving adequate healthcare • Veterans’ healthcare status needs assessment

  4. Why is this study important? Continued. • Veterans rate of suicide is twice as high compared to the general population • 20% of returning veterans have PTSD or major depression • 12.7% of the U.S. population are veterans, yet 23% of the homeless population are veterans

  5. Demographics • Michigan ranks 11th in veteran population • MI spends the least per capita on veterans of any state • Only 7% of veterans are females

  6. Demographics: Continued • The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) • Over 800 primary care clinics • The largest healthcare service in the U.S. for veterans • About 30% of veterans use the VA • In MI, around 17% of veterans use the VA

  7. Methods of the Study • Veterans were contacted using convenience sampling • Students were sent in groups to interview these veterans • Video and Audio recorded • Ethnographic reports • Questionnaires • Life histories, participant observation and • Focus group discussions

  8. Methods: Interviews • 5 groups of students conducted interviews • 53 veterans were interviewed over a 5 week period of time • Each interview lasted from 30 to 120 minutes • Each group kept a field diary and wrote an ethnographic report • These findings were compiled into a final report

  9. Qualitative Findings Most veterans do not use VA healthcare • Unaware of available benefits • Don’t feel deserving of benefits if healthy • Difficulty with paperwork and policies • Inefficiency in receiving benefits • Lack of contact with VA post-service

  10. Qualitative Findings Those who have utilized VA services are often dissatisfied with their experience • Disparities in quality of facilities across Michigan • West Michigan facilities outdated and unable to meet demand • Inconvenient VA hospital and clinic locations • Lack of continuity with primary healthcare provider • Presence of foreign-born medical professionals within VA facilities may limit communication

  11. Findings: Combat Vs. Marital Status According to the study, veterans that saw combat had significantly higher divorce rates and lower marriage rates than veterans that did not see combat.

  12. Findings: Age Vs. Transitioning Home N=98 According to this study, the youngest group of veterans, aged 44 or below, are having a harder transitioning home than older veterans did.

  13. Findings: Age Vs. Health Problems According to the study, the youngest veterans had a higher rate of having health problems then the older veterans.

  14. Findings: VA Benefits Vs. Job Satisfaction According to this study, veterans that use VA benefits had a higher rate of dissatisfaction with their jobs than veterans that do not use VA benefits.

  15. Field Experience • Gaining a greater appreciation of veterans • Becoming personally invested in veteran well-being • Overcoming the obstacles of participant observations

  16. Recommendations • Continue flexible and adaptive GI Bill • Improve advertisement according to region’s needs • Encourage doctors to work with VA • Provide adequate debriefing for returning veterans

  17. Recommendations • Include marriage and family counseling benefits • Make VFW and American Legion posts more attractive • Increase community and employment support

  18. Conclusions • Marital counseling for combat veterans is needed. • Thorough debriefing for veterans coming home • Needs a comprehensive follow-up • Mental health awareness should be improved. • Consistent PTSD screening • All veterans need to be acknowledged and appreciated for their service and their sacrifices.

  19. What We Learned • Encouraged to learn more about veterans • Gained an increased respect for veterans • The military shapes the lives of veterans • Most veterans take pride in their time in the military • Their healthcare can be inadequate for their specific needs

  20. Thank You! • The Field School like to show its gratitude to the following: • Veterans • Goodwill organization • Grand Rapids Home for Veterans: Tiffany Carr • WGVU: Timothy Eernisse • CLAS Dean: Frederick Antczak • Human Research Protection Committee - HRPC • Center for Scholarly Creative Excellence - CSCE • Dean of Students Office: Steven Lipnicki • Director of Institutional Analysis: Phillip Batty • Voiceover: John Howard • Department of Anthropology

  21. Discussion

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