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Health Conditions and Treatment Utilization Among Older Male Veterans Incarcerated in Prisons.
- Source :
-
Journal of general internal medicine [J Gen Intern Med] 2024 Jun; Vol. 39 (8), pp. 1369-1377. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 16. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background: More than 50,000 older male veterans incarcerated in prisons are expected to return to their communities and utilize the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and community healthcare systems. To support the continuity of healthcare and overall successful community reentry of older incarcerated veterans, an understanding of their health profiles and treatment utilization while in correctional care is needed.<br />Objective: To assess the health status of older male veterans incarcerated in state prisons and explore demographic, military, and VHA-related factors associated with medical conditions, disabilities, behavioral conditions, and medical and behavioral treatment utilization.<br />Design/participants: Cross-sectional observational study of 880 male veterans aged 50 + incarcerated in state prisons using data from the 2016 Bureau of Justice Statistics Survey of Prison Inmates.<br />Main Measures: Veteran status, self-report health status, and treatment utilization since prison admission. Prevalence rates for conditions and treatment utilization were calculated. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association of characteristics with conditions and treatment utilization.<br />Key Results: Among the 880 older male veterans in state prisons, the majority reported having a current medical condition (79.3%) or disability (61.6%), almost half had history of a mental health condition (44.5%), and more than a quarter (29%) had a substance use disorder. Compared to White veterans, Black veterans were less likely to report a disability or mental health condition. Few demographic, military, and VA-related characteristics were associated with medical or behavioral conditions or treatment utilization.<br />Conclusion: Our results suggest that the VHA and community healthcare systems need to be prepared to address medical and disability conditions among the majority of older male veterans who will be leaving prison and returning to their communities. Integrated medical and behavioral healthcare delivery models may be especially important for these veterans as many did not receive behavioral health treatment while in prison.<br /> (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)
- Subjects :
- Humans
Male
Cross-Sectional Studies
Middle Aged
United States epidemiology
Aged
Health Status
Prisons statistics & numerical data
United States Department of Veterans Affairs statistics & numerical data
Veterans statistics & numerical data
Veterans psychology
Prisoners statistics & numerical data
Prisoners psychology
Patient Acceptance of Health Care statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1525-1497
- Volume :
- 39
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of general internal medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 38228986
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-023-08587-5