The health and health care needs of veterans who had returned from Iraq

The purpose of this study was to examine the health and health care needs of veterans who were in active military duty and had returned from Iraq. The sample included 30 veterans. A health care assessment questionnaire was developed by the researcher to assess the veterans' health and health care needs. The majority of respondents had sought health care services. Half had been deployed 2-3 times and almost half reported that deployment negatively affected their life and family. The majority drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes. Many respondents reported that they accomplished less than they would because of their health and that emotional problems limited their social activities. Respondents reported a variety of symptoms, including trouble falling or staying asleep. Two thirds knew veterans who had posttraumatic stress disorder. The most frequently reported barrier to seeking health care services was do not believe they have a mental condition