Health Surveillance For A New Generation Of U.s. Veterans

Health Surveillance for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans

Questionnaire

HEALTH SURVEILLANCE FOR A NEW GENERATION OF U.S. VETERANS

OMB: 2900-0722

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OMB Number 2900-XXXX

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Health Surveillance for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans



Questionnaire


Sponsored by

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs










PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

The information requested on this survey is solicited under authority of 38 U.S.C. Section 7303. It is being collected to assist VA in learning more about the health of recent veterans and will help VA to provide better medical care. The information you supply will be confidential and protected by the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and specifically the VA system of records entitled 34VA12, “Veteran, Patient, Employee and Volunteer Research and Development Project Records – VA.” Releases of the information may only be made with your consent or as identified in a “routine use” of the system of records. Routine uses include releases of statistical data and non-identifying data for research and associated administrative purposes. Disclosure is voluntary; failure to furnish the requested information will have no adverse effect on any VA benefit to which you may be entitled.


PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT INFORMATION: This information is collected in accordance with the clearance requirements of section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Accordingly, VA may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. VA anticipates that the time expended by all individuals who complete this survey will average 30-45 minutes. This includes the time it will take to read instructions, gather the necessary facts, and fill out the survey. The information requested on this survey will be used to help VA assess the health status of veterans and plan health care services. A response to this survey is voluntary.

HEALTH SURVEILLANCE FOR A NEW GENERATION OF U.S. VETERANS

1. Please check all locations in which you served in the past 5 years prior to separation from active

duty:

O Afghanistan O SW Asia - Other O North America

O Iraq O Bosnia/Kosovo O Central America

O Kuwait O Europe O South America

O Qatar O Africa O On a ship

O Turkey O Other ________________________________


2. Please check your total number of deployments in the past 5 years prior to separation from active

duty:

Operation Iraqi Operation Enduring

Freedom Freedom Other ___________________________________________

O 1 O 1 O 1 Name of operation of your most recent deployment

O 2 O 2 O 2

O 3 O 3 O 3

O 4 O 4 O 4

O 5 or more O 5 or more O 5 or more


3. In what component(s) have you served? (Check all that apply.)

O Active Duty

O Reserve

O National Guard


4. What branch(es) did you serve with? (Check all that apply.)

O Air Force

O Army

O Coast Guard

O Marine Corps

O Navy


5. What was your most recent job in the military?________________________________________


6a. Did you serve in Afghanistan or neighboring countries in support of Operation Enduring

Freedom or in Iraq or elsewhere in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom?

O No IF NO, continue to question #7.

O Yes

6b. IF YES, what was your period of last deployment:

From ____/____/____ to ____/____/____

Month Day Year Month Day Year


7. What were you doing most of the past 12 months?

O Working outside the home

O Looking for work and unemployed

O On active duty

O Student

O Homemaker/Caring for family

O Retired

O On disability/Unable to work

O Own small business

O Other(Please specify:___________)


8. Have you received a letter from the VA secretary or other VA office informing you of programs

and benefits that you may be entitled to through VA?

O No O Yes O Don’t remember


9. Do you belong to a Veterans Group(s) such as Veterans of Foreign Wars of the Untied States (VFW)

or The American Legion?

O No O Yes

IF YES, which one(s)?

_____________________________________________________________________



10a. During the past 12 months how many clinic or doctor visits have you made because you had a

health problem? (exclude routine visits for vaccinations, physical examinations, etc.)

O None No. of visits 10b. Please explain reasons for visit or diagnoses.

________ 1.______________________________________

2.______________________________________

3.______________________________________

4.______________________________________



11a. During the past 12 months how many times have you been hospitalized overnight or longer?

O None No. of hospitalizations 11b. Please explain reasons for hospitalization or diagnoses.

________ 1.______________________________________

2.______________________________________

3.______________________________________

4.______________________________________



12. What health care coverage do you have (check all that apply):

O Department of Defense’s TRICARE

O Private insurance

O Medicaid

O Other individual or group plan

O VA

O Medicare

O None



13a. Have you used VA health care services since you were separated from active duty?

O No O Yes IF YES, continue to question #14.

13b. IF NO, why? (Answer and then skip to question #16.)

O I prefer to use other health care coverage

O I do not wish to use VA health care services because of concerns

about quality of care

O I do not know if I am eligible

O VA health care services are not in a convenient location for me

O Other (Please specify: ___________________________________)




14. What are the main reasons you enrolled? (Check all that apply.)

O To obtain regular or routine health care;

O To obtain specialist healthcare;

O To obtain dental care;

O To obtain prescription medications, eye glasses, hearing aids, or other devices;

O To obtain mental health care;

O To obtain special emphasis care such as for a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, blind

rehabilitation, prosthetics, etc.;

O To receive nursing home care;

O To obtain home health care


15. All things considered, how satisfied are you with your health care in VA?

O Completely satisfied

O Very satisfied

O Somewhat satisfied

O Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

O Somewhat dissatisfied

O Very dissatisfied

O Completely dissatisfied


16. About how tall are you without shoes? ______(feet) ______(inches)

17. About how much do you weigh without shoes? ______ (pounds)

*If currently pregnant, please give your usual weight before becoming pregnant

18. In general, would you say your health is:

O Excellent O Very good O Good O Fair O Poor

19a. Has your doctor ever told you that you

have any of the following conditions?

NO YES

19b. If yes, in what year

were you first diagnosed?

YEAR

1. Arthritis of any kind



__________

2. Skin cancer


__________

3. Any other cancer

(specify type:________________________)


__________

4. Cirrhosis of the liver



__________

5. Hepatitis


__________

6. Any other liver trouble


__________

7. Irritable bowel syndrome

or colitis (irritation of the colon)


__________

8. Diabetes


__________

9. Repeated seizures,

convulsions, or blackouts


__________


19a. Has your doctor ever told you that you

have any of the following conditions?

NO YES

19b. If yes, in what year

were you first diagnosed?


Year

10. Migraines


__________

11. Coronary heart disease

or artery disease


__________

12. Hypertension


__________

13. Stroke


__________

14. Sinusitis



__________

15. Bronchitis

__________

16. Asthma



__________

17. Frequent bladder

infections


__________

18. Significant hearing loss



__________

19. Multiple sclerosis



__________

20. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome



__________

21. Posttraumatic Stress

Disorder


__________

22. Depression



__________

23. Sleep apnea



__________

24. Traumatic Brain Injury



__________



20a. Did you experience any of the following events while serving in the military?

(Check all that apply.) 20b. Number

of times

O Blast or Explosion (IEF, RPG, Land Mine, Grenade, etc.) ____

O Motor vehicle, aircraft, or water transportation accident ____

O Fragment wound or bullet wound above the shoulders ____

O Fall ____

O Injury from sports/physical training ____

O Other injury (Please specify: _______________________) ____

O No, none of the above (Skip to question #24)




21. Did you have any of these IMMEDIATELY afterwards?

(Check all that apply.)

O Losing consciousness/ “knocked out” IF YES: About how long were you unconscious? ___ min.

O Being dazed, confused, or “seeing stars”

O Not remembering the event

O Concussion

O Head injury

O No, none of the above (Skip to question #24)


22. Did any of the following problems begin or get worse afterwards?

(Check all that apply.)

O Memory problems or lapses

O Balance problems or dizziness

O Sensitivity to bright light

O Irritability

O Headaches

O Sleep problems

O Hearing problems

O Other problems (Please specify:________________________)

O No, none of the above (Skip to question #24)


23. In the past week, have you had any of the following symptoms?

(Check all that apply.)

O Memory problems or lapses

O Balance problems or dizziness

O Sensitivity to bright light

O Irritability

O Headaches

O Sleep problems

O Trouble concentrating

O Hearing problems

O None of the above


24a. Has your doctor ever told you that you had a head injury?

O No O Yes (IF NO, continue to question #25)

24b. Have you received treatment from a doctor or other health professional for a head injury?

O No O Yes (IF NO, continue to question # 25)

24c. Has this treatment been helpful?

O No O Yes

24d. Were you prescribed medicine?

O No O Yes (Please specify:________________________________)








25. This question contains a list of comments made by people after stressful life events. Please read each item and mark how frequently these comments were true for you DURING THE PAST 4 WEEKS. If it did not occur during the past 4 weeks, please mark the “not at all” column.


25. In the past 4 weeks, have you had … ?

NOT A LITTLE QUITE

AT ALL BIT MODERATELY A BIT EXTREMELY

1. Repeated, disturbing memories of

stressful experiences from the past.

2. Repeated, disturbing dreams of

stressful experiences from the past.

3. Suddenly acting or feeling as if stressful

experiences were happening again.

4. Feeling very upset when something

happened that reminds you of

stressful experiences from the past.

5. Trouble remembering important parts

of stressful experiences from the past.

6. Loss of interest in activities that you

used to enjoy.

7. Feeling distant or cut off from other

people.

8. Feeling emotionally numb, or being

unable to have loving feelings for

those close to you.

9. Feeling as if your future will

somehow be cut short.


10. Trouble falling asleep or staying

asleep.

11. Feeling irritable or having angry

outbursts.

12. Having difficulty concentrating.


13. Being “super-alert,” or watchful

or on guard.

14. Feeling jumpy or easily startled.


15. Having physical reactions when

something reminds you of stressful

experiences from the past.

16. Avoid thinking about your stressful

experiences from the past, or avoid

having feelings about them.

17. Avoid activities or situations because

they remind you of stressful experiences

from the past.


26. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, do you think they are related to your military

experiences, other traumatic events in your life, or both?

O Military experiences only

O Other traumatic life events only

O Both

O Don’t know

27. Over the past 4 weeks, how often have you been

bothered by any of the following problems?



Not at all


Several days


More than half the days

1. Feeling nervous, anxious, on edge, or worrying a lot

about different things

If you checked “Not at all”, go to question #28.




2. Feeling restless so that it is hard to sit still





3. Getting tired very easily





4. Muscle tension, aches, or soreness





5. Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep





6. Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading a

book or watching TV




7. Becoming easily annoyed or irritable





28. Over the past 2 weeks, how often have you been

bothered by any of the following problems?

Not at all

Several days

More than half the days

Nearly every day

1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things






2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless






3. T rouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too

much





4. Feeling tired or having little energy






5. Poor appetite or overeating






6. Feeling bad about yourself – or that you are a

failure or have let yourself or your family down





7. T rouble concentrating on things, such as reading

the newspaper or watching television





8. Moving or speaking so slowly that other people

could have noticed? Or the opposite – being so

fidgety or restless that you have been moving

around a lot more than usual





9. Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of

hurting yourself in some way






29. Have you taken a prescribed medication for a physical or psychological/emotional condition in the

past year?

O No O Yes


IF YES, specify name(s) of medication(s)

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________


30. Since return from your deployment, have you had serious conflicts with your spouse, family

members, or close friends that continue to cause you worry or concern?

O No O Yes O Unsure


31. How often do you get into arguments with others at work?

O Very Often O Often O Sometimes O Rarely O Never


32. The following questions are about activities you might do during a typical day. Does

your health now limit you in these activities? If so, how much?


Yes, limited a lot

Yes, limited a little

No, not limited at all

a. Moderate activities, such as moving a table,

pushing a vacuum cleaner, bowling, or

playing golf




b. Climbing several flights of stairs





33. During the past 4 weeks, how much of the time have you had any of the following

problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of your physical

health?


All of the time

Most of the time

Some of the time

A little of the time

None of the time

a. Accomplished less than you

would like






b. Were limited in the kind of

work or other activities







34. During the past 4 weeks, how much of the time have you had any of the following

problems with your work or other regular daily activities as a result of any emotional

problems (such as feeling depressed or anxious)?


All of the time

Most of the time

Some of the time

A little of the time

None of the time

a. Accomplished less than you

would like






b. Did work or other activities

less carefully than usual








35. These questions are about how you feel and how things have been with you during the

past 4 weeks. For each question, please give the one answer that comes closest to the

way you have been feeling. How much of the time during the past 4 weeks



All of the time

Most of the time

Some of the time

A little of the time

None of the time

a. have you felt calm and

peaceful?






b. did you have a lot of

energy?






c. have you felt downhearted

and depressed?







36. During the past 4 weeks, how much of the time has your physical health or emotional

problems interfered with your social activities (like visiting friends, relatives, etc.)?

O All of the O Most of the O Some of the O A little of O None of the

time time time the time time


37. While you were deployed, do you believe you were

exposed to or did you experience any of the following? No Yes

1. Dust and sand O O

2. Burning trash/feces O O

3. Diesel, kerosene and/or other petrochemical fumes O O

4. Skin exposure to JP8, diesel, or other petrochemical fuel O O

5. Smoke from oil fires O O

6. Solvents or degreasers O O

7. Paint operations (vehicles or equipment) O O

8. Insect repellant (spray, lotion, or cream applied to your skin) O O

9. Pesticide-treated uniforms O O

10. Depleted uranium (DU) (handling DU munitions) O O

11. Ate local food other than provided by Armed Forces O O

12. Contact with Prisoners of War (POWs) O O

13. Exposure to Loud Noises O O

14. Radiation O O

15. Industrial pollution O O

16. Other exposure which you consider harmful O O

(Please describe.) ________________________________________________________


38. During any of your deployments, were you wounded or injured by hostile actions?

O No O Yes


39. Did you see anyone wounded, killed or dead during any deployment? (Check all that apply.)

O No O Yes – coalition O Yes – enemy O Yes- civilian


40. Were you engaged in direct combat where you discharged your weapon?

O No O Yes (O land O sea O air)

41. During any of your deployments, did you ever feel that you were in great danger of being killed?

O No O Yes


42. When you were in the military, did you ever receive uninvited or unwanted sexual attention (i.e.,

touching, cornering, pressure for sexual favors, or inappropriate verbal remarks, etc…)?

O No O Yes


43. When you were in the military, did anyone ever use force or the threat of force to have sex with you

against your will?

O No O Yes


44. Did you ever contract a sexually transmitted disease as a result of military sexual trauma?

O No O Yes


45. Did you receive any of the following vaccinations just before or during deployment?

No Yes

1. Smallpox (leaves a scar on the arm) O O

2. Anthrax series O O

3. Rabies O O


46a. Did you take medications to prevent malaria?

O No O Yes


46b. If YES, please indicate which medicines you took and whether you took them as directed.

(Mark all that apply)

Anti-malarial medications Took as Directed

O Chloroquine (Aralen®) O No O Yes

O Doxycycline (Vibramycin®) O No O Yes

O Mefloquine (Larium®) O No O Yes

O Primaquine O No O Yes

O Other:_________________________ O No O Yes


47a. Have you smoked cigarettes in the past 12 months?

O No O Yes IF YES, 47b. How many cigarettes do you smoke per day? _______

47c. How old were you when you first started

smoking? _______

(AGE)

IF NO, 47d. Have you ever smoked cigarettes even occasionally?


O No O Yes IF YES, 47e. When did you last stop? ________

(YEAR)

48. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

O Never O Monthly or O 2 to 4 times O 2 to 3 times O 4 or more

less a month a week times a week


49. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?

O 1 or 2 O 3 or 4 O 5 or 6 O 7 to 9 O 10 or more


50. How often do you have 5 or more drinks on one occasion?

O Never O Less than monthly O Monthly O Weekly O Daily or almost daily




51. Have any of the following happened to you more than once in

the past 6 months?

NO

YES

1. You drank alcohol even though a doctor suggested that you

stop drinking because of a problem with your health



2. You drank alcohol, were high from alcohol, or hung over

while you were working, going to school, or taking care of

children or other responsibilities



3. You missed or were late for work, school, or other activities

because you were drinking or hung over



4. You had a problem getting along with other people while you

were drinking



5. You drove a car after having several drinks or after drinking

too much




52. How often do you use seat belts when you drive or ride in a car?

O Always O Nearly always O Sometimes O Seldom O Never

O Don’t know / Not sure O Never drive or ride in a car


53. During the past 4 weeks, how many times did you ride with a driver who had perhaps too much

to drink?

____ Number of times

O None

O Don’t know / Not sure


54. Do you ride a motorcycle?

O No O Yes


55. Do you usually drive:

O 20 miles per hour or more over the speed limit

O about 15 miles per hour over the speed limit

O about 10 miles per hour over the speed limit

O about 5 miles per hour over the speed limit

O at or below the speed limit.


56. Have you been in a vehicle crash while in the United States during the past 3 years?

O No

O Yes

O Don't know


57. For Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans: If you answered yes to the previous question, did any of these crashes occur after you came back from deployment?

O No O Yes

How many?________________________________

58. Were you driving or was someone else driving during your most recent crash?

O I was driving

O Someone else

59. Within the past 3 years, have you:

NO

YES

1. Gotten a ticket for speeding




2. Gotten a warning for speeding




3. Gotten a ticket for any other moving violation (such as running a

red light or stop sign)



4. Been convicted of DWI or DUI



5. Had your car insurance canceled or premiums increased as a

result of claims or points




60. Not including blood donations, in what month and year was your last HIV test?

____(Month)______(Year)

O Don't know or Not sure

O Never tested


61. During the past 12 months, how many people have you had sex with?

O None

O One

O More than one (give number________)


62. Have you been treated for a sexually transmitted disease or venereal disease in the past 12 months

(for example, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, etc.)?

O No

O Yes


63a. In the past 12 months, have you had sex with someone who is not your main partner or whom you

do not consider to be your main partner?

O No

O Yes

63b. If "Yes," thinking back to the last time you had sex with that person, was a condom

used?
O No

O Yes


64. Have you ever tried for a period of 12 months or longer for you or your partner to become

pregnant?

O No (Skip to question #67)

O Yes (Continue with question #65)


65a. Did you or your partner eventually get pregnant or did you stop trying?

O Got pregnant O Stopped trying


65b. Did your partner with the pregnancy serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring

Freedom?

O No O Yes


65c. Did you seek any medical help while trying?

O No (Skip to question #67)

O Yes (Continue with question #66)


66. Did the medical provider find any of the following reasons to explain why you or your partner were

having difficulty getting pregnant?

O Problems with ovulation

O Blocked tubes

O Endometriosis

O Semen or sperm problems

O Other (Please specify.)________________________________________________

O No reason found


67a. FOR WOMEN: Have you ever been pregnant?

O No (Skip to question #69)

O Yes (Continue with question #68)


67b. FOR MEN: Have you ever been the biological father in any pregnancy, regardless of whether

there was a live birth outcome from that pregnancy?

O No (Skip to question #69)

O Yes (Continue with question #68)


68) Please provide information on all of your or your partner’s(s’) pregnancies. For multiple birth outcomes, make a separate entry for each (e.g., 2 entries for twins). If you are uncertain about a detail, please provide your best estimate:

Pregnancy

Outcome

Date of Pregnancy Outcome

Birth Weight

(If live birth)

Length of pregnancy

Birth Defects

Medical Conditions and Health Habits During Pregnancy

Did your partner serve in OIF or OEF?

1

O Single Live Birth

O Multiple births

(please fill out one

row for each)

O Miscarriage

O Abortion

O Stillbirth

O Ectopic or tubal

O Molar pregnancy

O Other: ________



___/___/_____

MM DD Year


___lbs _____oz

O Not applicable


Months _________

or

Weeks__________

O No

O Yes ( please describe): ________ _________________

_________________

O Not applicable


O Diabetes

O High blood

pressure

O Premature labor

O Maternal smoking

O Maternal drinking

O Infection(s)

O Prenatal care


O No

O Yes


2

O Single Live Birth

O Multiple births

(please fill out one

row for each)

O Miscarriage

O Abortion

O Stillbirth

O Ectopic or tubal

O Molar pregnancy

O Other: ________



___/___/_____

MM DD Year


___lbs _____oz

O Not applicable


Months _________

or

Weeks__________

O No

O Yes ( please describe): ________ _________________

_________________

O Not applicable


O Diabetes

O High blood

pressure

O Premature labor

O Maternal smoking

O Maternal drinking

O Infection(s)

O Prenatal care

O No

O Yes


3

O Single Live Birth

O Multiple births

(please fill out one

row for each)

O Miscarriage

O Abortion

O Stillbirth

O Ectopic or tubal

O Molar pregnancy

O Other: ________



___/___/_____

MM DD Year


___lbs _____oz

O Not applicable


Months _________

or

Weeks__________

O No

O Yes ( please describe): ________ _________________

_________________

O Not applicable


O Diabetes

O High blood

pressure

O Premature labor

O Maternal smoking

O Maternal drinking

O Infection(s)

O Prenatal care

O No

O Yes


69. For women only: If any of these pregnancies were the result of military sexual trauma, please

specify: _________________________________________________________________________


70.) For women only: What forms of contraception have you used before, during, and after your service

in the military? Check all that apply:


Before the military

On active duty

After separation from active duty

Birth control pills





Birth control ring





Birth control patch





Condom





Tubal ligation





Partner’s vasectomy





Withdrawal





Depo-Provera





Calendar method





Diaphragm or cervical cap





IUD





Morning after” pills





Foam/jelly





Progestin implant




None




Not sexually active





Other: (please specify)

__________________________





71. While on active duty, was it easy for you to get contraception if desired?

O No

O Yes






72a. While on active duty, did you use any hormonal methods to stop or control your period?

O No O Yes (please specify):__________________________(skip to question 72d.)

72b. Were you offered a hormonal method to stop or control your period by a health care

provider?

O No O Yes (skip to question 72d.)

72c. Would you have preferred to have a hormonal method to stop or control your period? O No O Yes


72d. Did you have access to sanitary supplies (i.e., pads, tampons) if needed? O No O Yes


72e. Are you currently using a hormonal method to stop or control your period?

O No O Yes (please specify):__________________________


73. Have you experienced any of the following problems before, during, or after active duty? Check all that

apply:


Before the military

On active duty

After separation from active duty

Irregular periods





Painful periods





Abnormal PAP smear





Pelvic inflammatory disease




Chronic pelvic pain





Low sexual interest





Painful intercourse





Urinary tract infection






74. Name: __________________________________ _____ _________________________ _____

Last Suffix First MI


75. Date of Birth: _____ / _____ / _________

Month Day Year

76. Last four digits of your social security number: ____ ____ ____ ____


77. Gender: O Male O Female







78. Current marital status

O Married or living with partner

O Married but separated from partner

O Single, never married

O Divorced

O Widowed


79. Current annual household income before tax:

O less than $35,000 O $75,000-$99,999

O $35,000-$49,999 O $100,000 - $149,999

O $50,000-$74,999 O $150,000 or more


80. What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

O High School degree/GED/or equivalent

O Some college, no degree

O Associate’s degree

O Bachelor’s degree

O Master’s, doctorate, or professional degree


81. Current contact information:

Home Phone: (________) _________--__________

Cell Phone: (________) _________--__________

E-mail address:_____________________________

Mailing address: ____________________________

____________________________


82. Point of contact who can always reach you:

Name:______________________________________

Phone: (________) _________--___________

E-mail address:______________________________

Mailing address: _____________________________

______________________________


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