An Examination of the Association Between Patient Experience and Quality of Mental Health Care Among Women Veterans

This study sought to examine: (1) the proportion of women veterans who obtained a PTD of mental health treatment; and (2) the association between women ’s experiences with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) mental health services and obtaining a PTD of mental health treatment. We assessed patient experience via a survey that measured experiences with gender-sensitive care, ease of getting care, perceived quality of care, and extent to which car e met needs. We used VHA administrative data to determine mental health utilization across a national sample of 2109 women veterans with episodes of mental health care that included psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy. Results indicated that 71% of women received a PTD. Positive ratings regarding perce ived quality of care and whether care met needs were associated with higher odds of receiving a PTD of treatment. Findings provide supporting evidence for the continued necessity  of offering patient-centered mental health care to women veterans. Careful consideration of women veterans’ mental he alth care experiences may be crucial in promoting high value mental health care for this population in VHA.
Source: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research