Health Assessments Improve Veteran Quality of Life

However, the study also found that these health assessments did not reduce hospital admissions or deaths.

The study examined the quality of life and health outcomes of 1569 veterans and war widows aged 70 years and older over 3 years. It compared four groups who received preventive health assessments at either annual or 6-monthly intervals and a control group who did not.

"We found that structured preventive health assessments were associated with a small improvement in quality of life but had no significant impact on deaths or hospital admissions," said Professor Julie Byles, Director of the Centre for Research and Education in Ageing at the University of Newcastle.

"The differences in quality of life were significant only in the later years of the research, suggesting that a long lead-time would be needed if health assessments were to improve health outcomes.

"These benefits must also be measured against the cost of providing health assessments. Without a reduction in deaths or hospitalisations, the small benefits to quality of life may not be considered cost effective," Professor Byles said.

However, the study acknowledged that the benefits identified might be more pronounced in the general aged population.

"As veterans and war widows receive veterans' benefits they arguably have greater access to services, potentially reducing the impact of health assessments," Professor Byles said.

Researchers also found that participants who had health assessments were more likely to be admitted into nursing homes. They believe this is because the assessments gave participants access to information and advice about nursing homes they would not otherwise have.

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.