Concussion Care Seeking Among Active-Duty Military Service Members

Failure to seek medical care following concussion may lead to greater symptom burden and prolonged recovery, impacting military performance and health-related quality of life. Currently, little is known regarding factors associated with concussion care seeking in active-duty military service members. PURPOSE: Determine if mental health, sleep duration, pain experience, health perceptions, and other care seeking behaviors for other health conditions were associated with concussion care seeking in military service members. METHODS: 14,601 Navy and Marine Corps service members (males = 12,320, 84.4%; females = 2,281, 15.6%) completed the annual Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) screening. Two multivariable logistic regression models were fit to determine whether presence 1) PTSD symptoms, depression, short sleep, moderate or greater pain rating, alcohol misuse, or self-rated health, or 2) care seeking behaviors for other medical conditions on the PHA were associated with not seeking care for a suspected concussion. Both models were adjusted for age, sex, service branch, military rank, component, and deployment history. RESULTS: Approximately 25% (n = 3,710) of respondents did not seek care in the year following a suspected concussion. PTSD symptoms, short sleep duration, moderate or greater pain rating, or misusing alcohol were associated with higher odds of not seeking care by 25%, 23%, 30%, and 43%, respectively. Those who sought care for mental health concerns had lower odds of not seeking care for a suspected concussion by 29%, and not presenting for other medical conditions listed on the PHA had 6.4 times greater odds of not seeking care for a suspected concussion (Table 1). CONCLUSION: A quarter of respondents did not seek care for a suspected concussion, which to our knowledge, is the first estimate of non-care seeking in military service members. Our results suggest that a holistic approach to individual health is needed to increase concussion care seeking.