Mental Health Disorders, Organizational Stigma, and Health Service Utilization among U.S. Fire Investigators: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate in a sample of U.S. fire investigators the: (1) prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk and mental health services use; and (2) association between organizational stigma and mental health disorders. METHODS: Cross-sectional study design used to administer between November 2023 and January 2024, a 35-item behavioral/mental health survey. RESULTS: Approximately 18.0% of fire investigators had GAD, 22.8% depression, and 18.2% PTSD risk. Organizational stigma about mental health disorders was reported by 53.3% of fire investigators. The most frequently used behavioral/mental health services were cognitive behavioral therapy (40.1%) and medication management (36.1%). Organizational stigma around reporting mental health disorders was significantly associated with PTSD risk (aOR = 5.25;[2.41-11.43]). CONCLUSION: Mental health disorders are present in the fire investigator workforce and organizational stigma is associated with limited report of PTSD risk.

Exploring Undergraduate Nursing Students' Preferences in Psychiatric Nursing Simulation Modalities.

BACKGROUND: The use of high-fidelity simulators (manikins) and standardized patients (SPs) in simulation has been incorporated into many nursing schools throughout the nation to augment the clinical rotation experience. There is little to no data available on comparing undergraduate students' preferences between SPs and manikins in psychiatric nursing. METHODS: A quantitative descriptive exploratory design was used to evaluate pre-licensure nursing students' preferences in both traditional 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and accelerated BSN programs (ABSN). RESULTS: Overall, students preferred having an SP over a manikin to learn how to properly perform a nursing assessment on a psychiatric patient. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized patients offer a more realistic experience when assessing various domains of the mental status examination and when practicing therapeutic communication techniques in psychiatric nursing. The growth of SP training programs should be fostered. Well-trained SPs are an asset to simulation, especially in psychiatric nursing.

The effect of pulsed electromagnetic frequency therapy on health-related quality of life in military service members with chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: In the U.S. military, chronic low back pain is among the most frequent complaints for medical visits, lost work time, and attrition from active duty and the deployed setting by service members. PURPOSE: The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether adjunctive treatment with pulsed electromagnetic frequency (PEMF) produced significant variability in chronic low back pain symptoms and secondary health-related quality of life, mental health and disability outcomes. METHODS: Prospective, randomized pilot study with repeated measures at baseline, post-treatment, and 1 month follow-up for two groups: usual care (UC) vs. UC + PEMF. FINDINGS: In a convenience sample of 75 service members, health-related quality of life mental and physical component scores were significant: F(2, 104) = 4.20, p = .018 (η2 = .075) and F(2, 104) = 4.75, p = .011 (η2 = .084), respectively; as was anxiety symptom severity: F(2, 104) = 5.28, p = .007 (η2 = .092). DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Adjunctive treatment with PEMF demonstrated improvements in service members' overall physical health-related quality of life with expected, yet statistically nonsignificant improvements in reported pain and LBP-related disability. There were significant between group differences in anxiety symptom severity with higher symptoms reported by the UC + PEMF group, surprising findings that warrant further investigation.

A pilot study examining the impact of care provider support program on resiliency, coping, and compassion fatigue in military health care providers.

OBJECTIVES: The Care Provider Support Program (CPSP) was created as a way to improve the resiliency of military health care providers. The purpose of this pilot study was to update what is currently known about the resiliency, coping, and compassion fatigue of military and civilian registered nurses, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and medics who treat wounded Soldiers and whether these factors can be improved over a sustained period of time. METHODS: A prospective cohort pilot study was implemented to investigate the long-term effects of CPSP training on military and civilian nurses, LPNs, and medics (n = 93) at an Army Medical Center utilizing the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, and Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire. Twenty-eight participants returned follow-up questionnaires. RESULTS: CPSP was significant in reducing burnout as measured by the Professional Quality of Life questionnaire, leading to decreased compassion fatigue. CPSP training did not affect resiliency scores on the Connor-Davidson resilience scale or coping scores as measured by the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: on the basis of the results of this study, CPSP training was effective in reducing burnout, which often leads to decreased compassion fatigue in a group of military and civilian registered nurses, LPNs, and medics.