Articles: health.
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Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) medical students typically enter the military with minimal military experience, commissioning specifically for the scholarship. During medical school, the only required training is a 5- to 6-week officer training course, which is neither specific to medicine nor guaranteed to be at the beginning of school, since it can be taken at any time. This lack of prior experience can lead to decreased confidence and understanding of the HPSP, specifically the medical school timeline leading up to the military match process and overall military. Our study investigated the effect of implementing a new military-specific orientation module on improving students' confidence and specific knowledge about the HPSP and military training. ⋯ Overall, the students felt more confident regarding the HPSP and showed improved knowledge after the orientation program. We found higher baseline knowledge regarding active duty tours, which their coordinators communicate well with HPSP students. Similar orientation programs could effectively improve the onboarding process of incoming HPSP students and those interested in applying for HPSP across multiple medical schools. Such programs can improve long-term student satisfaction and the duration of service following the minimum service commitments. Future research with a larger sample size and prospective design is needed to understand the long-term effects of this increased confidence on overall program satisfaction and military career.
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Posttraumatic nightmares (PTNs) are common among service members with a history of combat or mission-related trauma and are associated with decreased well-being. Unfortunately, beyond establishing an association between mental health symptoms and PTNs, the existing literature fails to provide a more comprehensive understanding of factors associated with PTNs. The effectiveness of current recommended treatments is frequently debated, with the literature varying in levels of support. Treatment of PTN is complicated, given their association with a number of mental health difficulties including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. The present study sought to better delineate the association of these difficulties with PTNs, in an effort to inform and improve treatments for the nation's service members. ⋯ Findings support the association of PTSS, anxiety, and depression to PTNs, and, importantly, suggest that other factors may be equally or more important in understanding PTNs. Notably, increased odds of PTNs were observed among patients with pain that disrupts their sleep. The cross-sectional nature of the study allows examination of these co-occurring symptoms as they would present in the clinic, potentially informing assessment and treatment strategies; however, it precludes consideration of temporal relationships. Results highlight the importance of considering comorbid symptoms and relevant military characteristics to gain a more complete understanding of PTNs. Future research utilizing longitudinal methods are needed to inform the temporal/causal aspects of these relationships.
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Background Estimated incidence of cancer diagnosis during or shortly after pregnancy is 1 in 1,000 women. Pregnancy can impact symptom appraisal and help-seeking for symptoms subsequently diagnosed as cancer. Little is known about the pathway to cancer diagnosis in pregnancy or delays that women can encounter. ⋯ Conclusion Health services need to better support women presenting with possible cancer symptoms during pregnancy to ensure timely diagnosis. Recommendations include prioritising symptoms over attributing them solely to pregnancy, ensuring timely referrals to rule out serious conditions, and emphasising clear communication alongside robust safety-netting practices. A full assessment is essential before dismissing symptoms as pregnancy related.