Military medicine
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A successful working relationship between the Military Medical Officer (MMO) and Commanding Officer (CO) is critical for mission success. However, there is a gap in the professional literature outlining evidence-based practices for teaching early career MMOs how to strategically develop this relationship. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to explore our participants' perceptions of how MMOs can foster a positive and productive working relationship with the CO. ⋯ Communication, presence, and role fulfillment are essential elements for optimizing the MMO-CO working relationship. Learning these roles during medical school may enhance early career physicians' mission readiness.
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Debonded denture teeth is a common complication on a fixed or removable dental prosthesis when denture teeth are fabricated separately from the denture base and bonded together. Missing denture teeth can alter a person's appearance, speech, or ability to eat. Traditionally, denture teeth repair can be a challenge for clinicians or dental laboratory technicians to find the identical tooth mould to meet esthetic and functional demands. This case report describes a digital workflow to scan, design, and mill a well-fitting and esthetic denture tooth to expedite treatment, improve patient satisfaction, and increase troop readiness when traditional methods may not be feasible.
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Preventing military sexual assault (SA) is a DoD priority. Building prevention capacity could strengthen the impact of prevention programs and improve outcomes. Capacity was conceptualized as implementation knowledge and skills using the Getting To Outcomes (GTO) process and organizational-level capacities using the Prevention Evaluation Framework, a framework that applies best practices in prevention and implementation science to prevention at the program and organizational level. The present study assesses implementation knowledge and skills currently possessed by SA prevention personnel in one U.S. Army installation with the goal of identifying preexisting proficiencies and potential gaps. The study uses the Prevention Evaluation Framework organizational-level domains to identify organizational capacities that could be improved. ⋯ The GTO-specific knowledge and skills of SA prevention personnel at one U.S. Army installation revealed proficiencies and gaps in organizational capacities influencing the prevention mission. Findings indicate that GTO support could be useful for improving the quality of program activities. However, results also indicate that GTO support would be more effective if they were paired with sufficient prevention infrastructure at the organizational level.
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Pregnancy has a profound impact on physical fitness, and delivery does not allow for rapid return to peak performance levels as physiologic changes can persist for greater than 1 year postpartum. Multiple studies across all military services have documented decrements in physical performance with pregnancy among women. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of serial pregnancies on physical fitness and body composition in a cohort of Army women. We hypothesized that a second pregnancy would be associated with increasing decrements in physical fitness in active duty soldiers beyond that seen following a first delivery. ⋯ The present study is the first to analyze the association of serial pregnancies on physical fitness utilizing a validated physical fitness test, and the results suggest that a second pregnancy is associated with progressive worsening of performance. This study is limited by the small sample size, and future studies could further elucidate the degree to which serial pregnancies affect physical fitness.