Articles: trauma.
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Background & objectives Many low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) have attempted to implement trauma registries with varying degrees of success. This study aimed to understand the registry implementation mechanism in LMICs better. Study objectives include assessment of the current use of trauma registries in LMICs, identification of barriers to the process and potential areas for intervention, and investigation of the registry implementation experience of key stakeholders in LMICs. ⋯ Interpretation & conclusions Barriers to registry implementation are ubiquitous and may contribute to the low uptake of registries in LMICs. One potential solution to these challenges is the application of the WHO International Registry for Trauma and Emergency Care. Future studies examining context-specific challenges to registry implementation and sustained utilization are required.
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Background and Objectives: Traumatic events adversely affect the clinical course of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Our study explores the correlation between prolonged interpersonal trauma and the severity of symptoms related to OCD and anxiety disorders. Materials and Methods: The study follows a cross-sectional and observational design, employing the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) to examine areas linked to interpersonal trauma, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) to assess anxious and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, respectively. ⋯ Logistic regression indicated a statistically significant association between the presence of cPTSD and Y-BOCS scores (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The coexistence of cPTSD in OCD exacerbates obsessive-compulsive symptoms and increases the burden of anxiety. Further advancements in this field are crucial for mitigating the impact of early trauma on the trajectory of OCD and associated anxious symptoms.
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Acute acoustic trauma (AAT) is characterized by cochlea-vestibular signs following intense noise exposure, often caused by impulse noise. French military faces a high risk of AAT because of the use of weapons with peak sound levels exceeding 150 dB. Hearing loss (HL) resulting from AAT can have a significant impact on quality of life and operational capacity. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of long-term hearing impairment after AAT. ⋯ This study highlights the prevalence of long-term hearing impairment after AAT in the French military. The findings emphasize the importance of preventive measures, including proper use of hearing protection devices, and the need for timely diagnosis and treatment. Further research is warranted to explore gender susceptibility to AAT and evaluate the impact of different weapons on AAT characteristics. The study also underscores the potential benefits of higher doses of corticosteroid therapy in reducing the risk of long-term hearing impairment. Overall, the findings contribute to a better understanding of AAT and can inform strategies for its prevention and management in military settings.
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Successful employment is a functional outcome of high importance for veterans after military discharge. There is a significant rising concern regarding exposure to military sexual trauma (MST) and related mental health outcomes that can impair functional outcomes, such as employment. Although resilience training is a key component of preparing for military service, to date the impact of resilience on employment outcomes for veterans with exposure to MST has yet to be examined. We sought to examine the relationship between resilience and employment in a national sample of post-9/11 veterans with and without MST exposure. ⋯ Among MST(+) women and men post-9/11 veterans, higher resilience was associated with increased odds of employment, whereas resilience was not associated with employment in MST(-) veterans. These findings suggest that resiliency during and after military service is a key component for potentially improving long-term outcomes. Improving resilience using evidence-based approaches among post-9/11 veterans exposed to MST may be an important avenue for increasing successful functional outcomes such as employment. Moreover, MST(+) women and men veterans may benefit from trauma-informed care as a substantial proportion of these individuals also report exposure to CST, AST, PTSD, and depression.
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Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) is often part of a comprehensive evaluation to identify acute mild traumatic brain injury. Most of the reports describe the use of the VOMS in adolescents/young adults and not in older adults or military service members. The purpose of this study was to describe VOMS findings in healthy civilians and active duty military service members up to the age of 50 years. ⋯ Reconsideration of the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation, Version 2 cutoff value for abnormal mean NPC distance may be warranted to improve diagnostic accuracy in both civilian and military adult populations. Similarly, re-evaluating criteria for interpreting the TSS results of the VOMS, specifically in civilians, may be warranted.