Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Cynthia Newell

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) studies on acute kidney injury (AKI) have focused on defined procedures and outcomes but not on gender differences. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in health services utilization by gender and other predisposing factors (age and race) among hospitalized veterans with AKI during a 5-year period from 2008 to 2013. The study included a retrospective cohort design and the behavioral model of health services utilization as the underlying theoretical framework. Secondary data were collected from an existing VA cohort. Data from 1,636 hospitalized AKI veterans were subjected to t tests to assess gender differences in VA health services use and short-term outcomes. ANOVAs were conducted on data from 6,102 veterans to assess the effect of age and race on VA health services utilization. Results indicated no significant gender differences in VA health services use and short-term outcomes. However, significant differences were found in some VA health services utilization for age and race. Results may be used by VA policymakers and administrators to identify and reduce gender inequalities in VA health services use and outcomes.

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