Military Sexual Trauma Services for Women Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration: The Patient-Care Practice Environment and Perceived Organizational Support

This study examined the direct care practice environment of military sexual trauma (MST) services for women veterans within the Veterans Health Administration Northwest region. The objectives were (a) to measure identified factors in the MST practice environment that influence the provision of care, (b) to measure levels of perceived organizational support (POS) among MST providers, and (c) to assess the association of key practice environment factors with levels of POS. Results of a cross-sectional survey found a relationship between MST practice environment variables and levels of POS (p < .01). Initial findings suggest that despite uniform national policy, divergent support for MST services may be dependent on factors not at the national or regional level, but at the local facility level.