Identifying facilitators of early access to care among Canadian Forces Health Services personnel

LAY SUMMARY Despite the importance of the mental and physical well-being of Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) personnel, research suggests they may be under-accessing care. A lot of research has looked at what factors prevent individuals from accessing care (i.e., barriers), but almost none examined what encourages individuals to access care (i.e., facilitators). In addition to examining which facilitators encourage CFHS personnel to access care, the study also examined whether facilitators directly impacted care-seeking behaviour, or whether they also indirectly influence behaviour by impacting general intentions to access care. Results showed that one’s health being a priority directly and indirectly influenced care-seeking for both mental and physical health issues. Having the support of senior leadership influenced intention to seek care for mental health issues. Easy access to care influenced intention to seek care for physical health issues. Ensuring CFHS personnel prioritize their own health, have the support of senior leadership, and easy access to care will help promote early access to care.