Evaluation of Two Educational Modalities for the Clinical Practice Guideline for Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain for US Military Physicians.

Introduction: The Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain was updated in 2017 with targeted guidance to provide safe opioid use while mitigating the increasing levels of prescription opioid misuse among military personnel. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of two educational training modalities for the CPG (an online training [OLT] module and a mobile app) on provider's knowledge, practices, and comfort with the CPG. The OLT was a self-paced interactive slide-based module that emphasized practical application, and the app provided information on the revised CPG and provider and patient resources.

Use of an Educational Video to Reduce Barriers to Military Mental Health Care.

Objective: Although there is significant need for mental health care among service members, stigma surrounding these services, along with myths associated with behavioral health treatment, discourages care seeking. This study evaluated the effect of a video designed to demystify mental health treatment on barriers to seeking care among military personnel.

Methods: Participants were 294 active duty U.

An exploratory case study of environmental factors related to military alcohol misuse.

Background: Alcohol misuse has been an ongoing issue for the US Armed Services, with the Marine Corps maintaining the highest levels of problematic drinking. Broad environmental, social, and policy factors play an important role in alcohol misuse but are rarely studied as objective measures.

Methods: This case study used a pattern-matching approach to examine the associations between objective on- and off-base community environmental risk and protective factors and 4 objective alcohol-related outcomes at 3 large Marine Corps installations.

U.S. Marines' Perceptions of Environmental Factors Associated With Alcohol Binge Drinking.

Introduction: Alcohol misuse, in particular binge drinking, is a serious concern among military personnel because it is strongly associated with adverse consequences and has a deleterious effect on readiness. Although most alcohol misuse studies have focused on individual risk factors, studies are increasingly examining environmental influences and strategies for reducing alcohol risks. The purpose of this study is to address gaps in what is known about how service members' perceptions of environmental factors are related to binge drinking in the U.

Acceptability of mental health stigma-reduction training and initial effects on awareness among military personnel.

The purpose of this paper is to report on the development of a mental health stigma reduction toolkit and training, and the acceptability and level of stigma awareness following the stigma-reduction training for military personnel. The overall aims of the training were to provide discussion tools highlighting the experiences of Marines seeking help for stress concerns, improve communication between leaders and their Marines around the issue of help seeking, and familiarize Marines with behavioral health treatment. Senior enlisted leaders and officers (N = 52) from a Marine Corps battalion participated in a pretest, 2-h stigma-reduction training and immediate posttest.

Substance abuse counselor and client reports of mental health screening and enhanced practices.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine mental health screening practices and attitudes from both counselor and client perspectives in the U.S. Marine Corps substance abuse program.