Military medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Immersive Virtual Reality for Pain Control and Anxiolysis During IV Blood Draws in Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
To evaluate immersive virtual reality's (IVR) effectiveness as a distraction in reducing perceived pain and anxiety among adults undergoing intravenous (IV) blood draw. ⋯ The results of our study demonstrated that there was no significantly lower perceived pain or anxiety when using IVR compared to standard practice in adults undergoing IV blood draw.
-
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.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
The Effect of Preoperative Behavioral Intervention on Pain, Anxiety, Opioid Use, and Function in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Study.
To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative cognitive-behavioral psychoeducation (CBE) for improved pain, anxiety, opioid use, and postoperative function in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients. ⋯ A cognitive-behavioral approach to preoperative education may improve postoperative pain, anxiety, and function while decreasing opioid use among TKA patients. Findings from this pilot study support further research to examine similar interventions among distinct surgical populations and encourage further evaluation on the effects of CBE to enhance health and healthcare delivery.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Optimizing Performance and Mental Skills With Mindfulness-Based Attention Training: Two Field Studies With Operational Units.
Mental skills such as focusing attention and managing emotions are essential for optimal performance in high-stress occupations. Studies with military samples have demonstrated that mindfulness training (MT) led to improved computer-based cognitive performance. ⋯ Consistent with prior findings, results suggest that regular engagement in MT practice may help to optimize operational performance and improve mental skills in military cohorts.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
The Effectiveness of Dexmedetomidine as a Prophylactic Treatment for Emergence Delirium Among Combat Veterans With High Anxiety: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.
Emergence delirium (ED) is characterized by agitation, confusion, and violent physical and verbal behavior associated with awakening from general anesthesia. Combat exposure among U.S. military veterans has been identified as a risk factor for ED. Preoperative baseline anxiety was shown to be a predictor of ED, and combat veterans are known to be at high risk for anxiety as well as depression and PTSD. Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 receptor agonist proven to mitigate ED in several patient populations. Perioperative use of dexmedetomidine demonstrated promising benefits in pediatric ED but has not been evaluated in combat veterans. ⋯ Dexmedetomidine was effective at reducing PAED among combat veterans who were experiencing symptoms of pre-operative anxiety (i.e., STAI-State ≥39). Although psychological morbidity is not unique to the military population, combat veterans carry some of the highest rates of anxiety, PTSD and depression compared to the general population. Dexmedetomidine can be safety employed by anesthesia providers to reduce symptoms of ED in the perioperative period. The double-blind randomized, controlled study design strengthens our analyses; however, this study did not control for the type of surgical procedure or the duration of anesthetic. Furthermore, we only enrolled patients with combat exposure experiencing symptoms of anxiety and did not investigate the role of dexmedetomidine in combat veterans with less anxiety. Further study of the relationship between psychological comorbidities, ED, and dexmedetomidine is warranted.