Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government
Veterans Benefits and Health Care About VA Find a VA Location

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR&D Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

How depression influences the receipt of primary care services among women: a propensity score analysis

Stecker T, Fortney JC, Prajapati S. How depression influences the receipt of primary care services among women: a propensity score analysis. Journal of women's health. 2007 Mar 1; 16(2):198-205.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.    Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions


Abstract:

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many patients with psychiatric disorders do not receive appropriate medical services, whereas others receive unnecessary medical services. This study investigated whether female primary care patients with depression were more or less likely to receive preventive/diagnostic tests. METHODS: Preventive/diagnostic tests for females with depression or hypertension or both over a 5-year period were extracted from an electronic medical record (EMR) used at a university-based family practice clinic. Tests extracted included cholesterol screening, mammogram, Pap smear, and colonoscopy. RESULTS: Of 860 included in the analysis, 270 were diagnosed with depression, 380 with hypertension, and 210 with both conditions. Women with depression were significantly more likely to receive colonoscopies and Pap smears than women with hypertension. Hypertensive patients were significantly more likely to have their cholesterol checked. CONCLUSIONS: Somatization associated with depression may lead to more preventive and diagnostic testing among female primary care patients.




Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.