Military medicine
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Clinical clerkship curricula should exist to provide rotating learners on subspecialty rotations with consistent exposure to specific topics geared toward the discipline of interest, such as pediatric gastroenterology (GI). We aim to describe our experience developing and implementing DIGEST: the Digital Interactive Gastroenterology Education Suite for Trainees, a novel, online GI curriculum delivered to virtual, rotating learners during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic stay-at-home order. ⋯ DIGEST is a novel pediatric GI curriculum for rotating learners that could be rapidly deployed, or adapted, for a wide range of clinical disciplines within the Military Health System.
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Despite a wide literature describing the impact of PTSD on military personnel, there is limited information concerning the results of PTSD treatment within military clinics mental health. Having such information is essential for making predictions about service members' chances of recovery, choosing best treatments, and for understanding if new interventions improve upon the standard of care. ⋯ Recovery from PTSD is possible during military service, but it is less likely in individuals with certain negative prognostic factors, most notably severe depression.
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In 2010, the National Survey of Children with Special Healthcare Needs revealed that parents of children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) report employment decisions are influenced by healthcare coverage needs. The U.S. military healthcare system arguably offers service member parents of CSHCN with the most comprehensive, inexpensive, long-term healthcare in the country-potentially increasing their incentive to remain in the military. This study explored the effect of having a CSHCN on the length of parental military service. ⋯ Findings indicate that military parents of CSHCN serve longer military careers than parents of children with no chronic conditions. Continued provision of free, high-quality healthcare coverage for dependent children may be important for service member retention. Retaining trained and experienced service members is key to ensuring a ready and lethal U.S. military.
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Telementoring is an evidence-based approach to meet the educational needs of primary care providers (PCPs) and to improve the quality of chronic pain care. This mixed methods study evaluated the effectiveness of pain management telementoring in improving provider knowledge, attitudes, and perceived competence. ⋯ Telementoring may hold significant potential to support providers in their efforts to decrease use of prescription opioids. Overall, this study provides further support for the value of telementoring in improving comprehensive chronic pain management in military settings.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth Program in Reducing Alcohol-Related Harms in Young Naval Trainees.
The aim of this study was to test whether participation in an alcohol risk reduction program known as Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) is effective in reducing the prevalence of risky drinking at 12 months' post-intervention in a sample of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) trainees. ⋯ Participation in either an on-base or an in-hospital P.A.R.T.Y. program did not affect the proportion of naval trainee participants screening positive for risky drinking on the AUDIT.