Publications by authors named "Cynthia Simon-Arndt"

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.

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Introduction: U.S. Navy Medicine's temporary limited duty (LIMDU) program is the primary vehicle for managing the medical care and subsequent career outcomes of the ill and injured active component (AC) Sailors and Marines to ensure a medically ready force.

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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.

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Article Synopsis
  • Alcohol misuse is a significant problem within the US Armed Services, particularly in the Marine Corps, influenced by various environmental, social, and policy factors that are not often studied.
  • A case study examined the relationship between objective community factors (like alcohol sales and availability) and alcohol-related issues at three Marine Corps installations, analyzing data on alcohol services, domestic violence, and DUI arrests.
  • Results indicated that younger Marines and those in enlisted pay grades, especially when stationed overseas, experience higher alcohol-related problems, with more on-base sales and a greater density of alcohol-serving establishments correlating with increased misuse; thus, limiting alcohol sales on bases could reduce harm.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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