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Veterans' Healthcare: An Ethnographic Study of Health Disparities

This study examines the healthcare status of veterans in West Michigan, aiming to improve their well-being. With a focus on veterans' demographics, methods such as interviews and ethnographic reports reveal challenges faced by veterans regarding VA benefits, healthcare providers, and transitioning home. Findings highlight the impact of combat experience, age, health problems, and VA benefits on veterans' lives. The study underscores the importance of providing comprehensive support, including mental health awareness, marriage counseling, and community services, to address veterans' diverse needs and ensure their valuable service is acknowledged and appreciated.

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Veterans' Healthcare: An Ethnographic Study of Health Disparities

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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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