Military medicine
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We compared core pediatric clerkship student assessments across 11 geographically distinct learning environments following a major curriculum change. We sought to determine if intersite consistency existed, which can be used as a marker of program evaluation success. ⋯ Over the ensuing 5-year period after a curriculum overhaul to an 18-month, integrated module pre-clerkship curriculum, we found that student pediatric clerkship performance in clinical knowledge and skills did not differ significantly across 11 varied geographic teaching sites when controlling for students' pre-clerkship achievement. Specialty-specific curriculum resources, faculty development tools, and assessment of learning objectives may provide a framework for maintaining intersite consistency when faced with an expanding network of teaching facilities and faculty.
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Operation Bushmaster is a high-fidelity simulation held for fourth-year medical students at the Uniformed Services University. No past research has examined this multi-day simulation's ability to prepare military medical students for the complexities of their first deployment. This qualitative study, therefore, explored Operation Bushmaster's impact on military medical student deployment readiness. ⋯ Operation Bushmaster immerses students in a realistic, stressful operational environment, challenging them to develop an adaptive mindset and efficacious leadership skills that they will utilize during future deployments.
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Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a tool undergoing expanding use in military medicine, including routine inpatient, outpatient, and operational environments. Specific musculoskeletal POCUS examinations require additional equipment in the form of a standoff assist device to maximize image acquisition. These devices may not be readily available to POCUS users in more austere or resource-constrained environments. We devised a study to determine if intravenous fluid bags of various volumes could be substituted for standard standoff devices in musculoskeletal POCUS. ⋯ In the absence of a standard commercial gel standoff device or water bath, intravenous fluid bags of 50, 100, and 250 mL can facilitate quality image acquisition for musculoskeletal POCUS.
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Medical readiness to deploy is an increasingly important issue within the military. Musculoskeletal back pain is one of the most common medical problems that affects service members. This study demonstrates the associations between risk factors and the prevalence of musculoskeletal back pain among active duty sailors and Marines within the Department of the Navy (DoN). ⋯ There was an increasing prevalence of back pain across the DoN from 2009 to 2015. Different occupational categories demonstrate different prevalence of back pain. Surprisingly, combat occupations and aviators were among the groups with the lowest prevalence. Lifestyle factors such as excess body weight and use of tobacco products are clearly associated with increased prevalence. These results could inform military leaders with regard to setting policies that could increase medical readiness.