scholarly journals The Ties That Bind: Camaraderie in Military Interprofessional Healthcare Teams

2021 ◽  
Vol 186 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 42-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Hamwey ◽  
Karlen S Bader-Larsen ◽  
Danette F Cruthirds ◽  
Lara Varpio
Keyword(s):  
Military Service ◽  
Healthcare Team ◽  
Mutual Respect ◽  
Military Service Members ◽  
Military Members ◽  
Shared Goals ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
Interprofessional Healthcare ◽  
Military Teams ◽  
Force Data

ABSTRACT Introduction Multiple aspects of interpersonal dynamics can help or hinder the success of teams, particularly those in a Military Interprofessional Healthcare Team (MIHT). One specific mechanism for MIHTs’ success is camaraderie and how these military teams are able to achieve, maintain, and enable the development of this important characteristic. Despite our understanding of military service members as being bonded like a family, we have a limited understanding of how this bond is translated into their MIHT experiences. Materials and Methods This study conducted interviews among 30 individuals who had participated in, led individual, and/or led many MIHTs, using a grounded theory methodology. Participants represented 11 different health professions, including officers and enlisted military members, and three branches of the U.S. military (e.g., army, navy, and air force). Data were collected and analyzed in iterative cycles until saturation was achieved. Results We identified six themes that shaped the overarching concept of camaraderie in MIHTs. These themes were (1) confidence in competent peers, (2) shared goals, (3) mutual respect, (4) desire to help one another improve, (5) personal is professional, and (6) bonds of military service. This paper describes each of these themes, provides illustrative examples from the data, and describes how these components contribute to MIHTs’ team dynamics. We present a model for how to understand these themes. Conclusions Through the identification and exploration of these aspects of camaraderie, we are able to better understand how MIHTs are able to be successful. MIHTs that demonstrated confidence in their brother/sister in arms possessed shared goals and missions, while maintaining mutual respect, a desire to help one another do better, and creating a personal and professional overlap tended to form stronger bonds of military service. Critically, these six aspects support a more nuanced understanding of the spirit of camaraderie and how it underpins MIHT success.

Mind the gap: Sex, gender, and intersectionality in military-to-civilian transitions

2021 ◽  
pp. e20210018
Author(s):  
Maya Eichler ◽  
Kimberley Smith-Evans ◽  
Leigh Spanner ◽  
Linna Tam-Seto
Keyword(s):  
Military Service ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Transition Outcomes ◽  
Military Service Members ◽  
Military Members ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Canadian Research ◽  
Insight Into

LAY SUMMARY The authors conducted a review of existing research on sex, gender, and intersectionality in relation to military-to-civilian transition (MCT). Extensive international studies and government resources, mostly from the United States, provide insight into the potential vulnerabilities and challenges encountered by historically under-represented military members and Veterans during MCT (i.e., by women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other sexual or gender minority, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour military service members and Veterans). The reviewed sources also highlight government initiatives and tailored programs that exist internationally to address diverse Veteran needs. Canadian research and government initiatives on the topic are limited, and this gap needs to be kept in mind. To support equitable transition outcomes for all Veterans, research as well as policies, programs, and supports need to pay attention to sex and gender as well as intersecting factors such as sexuality, race, Indigeneity, and more.

scholarly journals Perseverance: An Essential Trait of Military Interprofessional Healthcare Teams

2021 ◽  
Vol 186 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 29-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly S Meyer ◽  
Steven J Durning ◽  
Karlen S Bader-Larsen ◽  
Meghan Hamwey ◽  
Lara Varpio
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Healthcare Teams ◽  
Military Members ◽  
Interprofessional Healthcare ◽  
Force Data

ABSTRACT Introduction Perseverance—doing something despite difficulty—is an asset to healthcare professionals, yet not all providers display this trait. The literature offers no conceptualization of perseverance as it relates to military caregivers. This research sought to explore the perseverance displayed by members of military interprofessional healthcare teams (MIHTs) and to construct a framework for explaining the role of perseverance in MIHTs’ collaborative work. Methods Using Grounded Theory, this interview-based study collected insights from 30 individuals who had participated in MIHTs and/or led MIHTs. Participants represented 11 different health professions, both officers and enlisted military members, and three branches of the U.S. military (i.e., Army, Navy, and Air Force). Data were collected and analyzed in iterative cycles until theme saturation was achieved. Results We identified practices through which perseverance was exhibited by members of MIHTs: (1) humility, (2) mission focus, (3) team effort, (4) failure is not an option, (5) comfort with discomfort, and (6) continuous improvement. We then clustered these practices into three subcategories, reflecting how certain practices may connect to support MIHT perseverance. Conclusions These six practices appear connected in significant ways to support the MIHTs’ efforts. Humility, mission focus, and team effort can help team members collaborate as a unified and mutually supportive team. From this base, MIHTs seemed able to become comfortable with discomfort and to refuse failure as an option. These orientations then allowed the team to engage in continuous improvement. Together, these practices may enhance team perseverance and ultimately team performance.

Prospective study of anxiety, post-traumatic stress and depression on postural control, gait, otolith and visuospatial function in military service members with persistent post-concussive symptoms

2019 ◽  
pp. 271-287
Author(s):  
◽  
Andrew Lewandowski ◽  
Lindell K. Weaver ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Service Members ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
High Anxiety ◽  
Affective Symptoms ◽  
Military Service Members ◽  
Post Traumatic

Purpose: Military service members often report both affective and vestibular complaints after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), but associations between symptoms and vestibular deficits can be subtle and inconsistent. Methods: From two complementary studies, one of military service members with persistent post-concussive symptoms after mTBI (NCT01611194) and the other of adult volunteers with no history of brain injury (NCT01925963), affective symptoms were compared to postural control, gait, otolith and visuospatial function. Results: The studies enrolled 71 participants with mTBI and 75 normative controls. Participants with mTBI had significantly reduced postural equilibrium on the sensory organization test (SOT), and more so in those with high anxiety or post-traumatic stress. Cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP; oVEMP) showed prolonged latencies in mTBI participants compared to controls; oVEMPs were significantly delayed in mTBI participants with high anxiety, post-traumatic stress or depression. A subset of the mTBI group had abnormal tandem gait and high anxiety. Anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and depression did not correlate with performance on the 6-Minute Walk Test, visuospatial neuropsychological measures, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale in the mTBI group. Conclusions: In this study military service members with mTBI reported affective symptoms, concurrently with vestibular-balance concerns. Worse scores on affective measures were associated with abnormal findings on measures of postural control, gait and otolith function.

Duration of seropositivity following yellow fever vaccination in U.S. military service members

Vaccine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (52) ◽  
pp. 8286-8291
Author(s):  
Nicole P. Lindsey ◽  
Lori Perry ◽  
Marc Fischer ◽  
Tabitha Woolpert ◽  
Brad J. Biggerstaff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Fever ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Service Members ◽  
Military Service Members ◽  
Yellow Fever Vaccination

Infertility and the Military Male

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (01) ◽  
pp. 005-011
Author(s):  
Amanda B. Reed-Maldonado ◽  
Kristin C. Madden
Keyword(s):  
Male Infertility ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Clinical Investigation ◽  
Male Factor Infertility ◽  
Military Population ◽  
Male Factor ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Military Service Members ◽  
Infertile Couples ◽  
The Military

AbstractMale infertility is a condition that affects approximately 50% of infertile couples and about 30% of those couples have only male factor infertility identified. There has been speculation that male military service members may have an even greater lifetime prevalence of infertility as compared to the general population, but very few scientific publications focus on male factor infertility in the military population specifically. This review will discuss many of the unique considerations regarding male infertility in the military and highlight future opportunities for research. The military/federal health system has the potential to serve as a leader in both the delivery of health care for male factor infertility and in the clinical investigation into the etiologies of and treatments for male factor infertility.

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