Access to Care and Services Among U.S. Rural Veterans With and Without Disabilities: A National Study.

ABSTRACT: Background: Access to healthcare is a significant challenge for rural veterans, especially those with chronic conditions; yet, research on their specific barriers remains limited. This study had three objectives: (1) to develop and validate the Rural Access to Care and Services Scale (RACSS) as a simple tool to assess access to physical, mental, and social care and services; (2) to examine whether minority veterans face greater barriers to care; and (3) to test whether RACSS scores are associated with psychosocial outcomes as theoretically expected. Methods: Data were collected from 500 rural veterans in the U.S. through a survey assessing demographic information, service-connected disability status, clinical conditions, and access to healthcare. First, the RACSS was d

SUBMITTER: Umucu E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11817750 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature