Table 3.

Difference between mean baseline and follow-up scores

Health care Insecurity measure items*	Baseline	Follow-up	P‡	Effect size§
I feel like nobody is looking out for my health care needs†	2.8	1.6	<.001	0.78
I feel secure about how my health care needs are met	2.9	1.7	<.001	0.77
I would be able to receive non-emergency medical care if I needed it	2.4	1.4	<.001	0.69
I can easily see a primary care doctor to discuss a problem or concern	2.9	1.9	<.001	0.67
I have a way to get screening tests	2.8	1.8	<.001	0.60
I am worried that if I get sick, I won’t get the care I need†	3.0	2.1	.001	0.56
I am able to get medical care whenever I need it	2.5	1.7	.002	0.50
I don’t have a way to get the medication that I need when I need it†	2.6	1.8	.004	0.47
I have a way to get medical testing if I need it	2.6	1.8	.006	0.44
I don’t have a way to see a specialist doctor if I need one†	3.0	2.3	.007	0.44
I have the things I need to improve my health	2.3	1.7	.02	0.39
I would be able to receive emergency medical care if I needed it	1.8	1.4	.04	0.32
I have the things I need to maintain my health	2.2	1.8	.05	0.30
I feel secure about receiving in-hospital care if I need it	2.2	1.8	.12	0.24
I am in control of making my health better	1.8	1.4	.14	0.23
Outcome measures	Baseline	Follow-up	P‡	Effect size§
Health care Insecurity measure (maximum 60)	37.7	26.2	<.001	0.68
Perceived Stress Scale (maximum 40)‖	19.2	19.3	.91	0.02
Health-related quality of life¶
VR-12 Physical score (t-score, mean 50)	38.0	40.2	.14	0.24
VR-12 Mental score (t-score, mean 50)	43.7	43.7	.96	0.01
General health status#
Physical health rating (maximum 5)	3.6	3.2	.004	0.47
Mental health rating (maximum 5)	3.2	3.0	.16	0.22

Note: n = 43

^*Mean values are calculated on a scale of 0–4, with 0 being not insecure and 4 being very insecure.

^†Items are reverse coded.

^‡P-values are based on paired t-tests.

^§Effect sizes greater than 0.5 are clinically important.⁴⁴

^‖Higher score indicates greater stress.

^¶Higher scores indicate higher quality of life.

^#Scaled 1–5, with higher ratings indicating worse health.

VR-12 = Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey