TY - JOUR
T1 - Disparities in U.S. Air Force preventive health assessments and medical deployability
AU - Hatzfeld, Jennifer J.
AU - Gaston-Johansson, Fannie G.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Objective: This study aimed to determine whether preventive health assessment currency and medical nondeployability rates were the same for all active duty members in the U.S. Air Force. Methods: Deidentified data were compiled from, personnel and readiness databases. Prevalence of current preventive appointments and nondeployable status were calculated by race/ethnicity, gender, and rank, and adjusted for age. Results: Permanent medical nondeployability was higher for Asian/Pacific Islanders and non-Hispanic Blacks than non-Hispanic Whites (p < 0.05), although current preventive health appointments were higher for minorities. Statistically significant differences were identified by gender, but were clinically insignificant. Currency rates for prevention appointments were lowest for senior officers, whereas senior enlisted members were more likely to be medically nondeployable (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Evidence of disparities in medical deployability rates for Asian/Pacific Islanders, non-Hispanic Blacks, and senior enlisted active duty members suggest that further investigation, is warranted to ensure existing policy and procedures do not contribute to health disparities.
AB - Objective: This study aimed to determine whether preventive health assessment currency and medical nondeployability rates were the same for all active duty members in the U.S. Air Force. Methods: Deidentified data were compiled from, personnel and readiness databases. Prevalence of current preventive appointments and nondeployable status were calculated by race/ethnicity, gender, and rank, and adjusted for age. Results: Permanent medical nondeployability was higher for Asian/Pacific Islanders and non-Hispanic Blacks than non-Hispanic Whites (p < 0.05), although current preventive health appointments were higher for minorities. Statistically significant differences were identified by gender, but were clinically insignificant. Currency rates for prevention appointments were lowest for senior officers, whereas senior enlisted members were more likely to be medically nondeployable (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Evidence of disparities in medical deployability rates for Asian/Pacific Islanders, non-Hispanic Blacks, and senior enlisted active duty members suggest that further investigation, is warranted to ensure existing policy and procedures do not contribute to health disparities.
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U2 - 10.7205/MILMED-D-09-00060
DO - 10.7205/MILMED-D-09-00060
M3 - Article
C2 - 20108839
AN - SCOPUS:77649225993
SN - 0026-4075
VL - 175
SP - 25
EP - 32
JO - Military medicine
JF - Military medicine
IS - 1
ER -