Acceptability of adverse childhood experiences questions for health surveillance in U.S. Armed Forces.

Background: Research has documented a consistent and strong association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and negative health outcomes in adulthood. The Department of Defense is expanding health surveillance of military members and considering the inclusion of ACE questions.

Objective: To explore the perceptions and attitudes of service members and spouses regarding the use of ACE questions in routine health surveillance.

Culturally competent research with American Indians and Alaska Natives: findings and recommendations of the first symposium of the work group on American Indian Research and Program Evaluation Methodology.

This article describes the collective experience of a multidisciplinary network of researchers, practitioners, and program evaluators who support appropriate research and evaluation methods in working with Native peoples. Our experience underlines the critical importance of culture in understanding and conducting research with the diverse populations of American Indians and Alaska Natives, and documents the need for community-based, collaborative, participatory action research. We discuss the major findings of the first American Indian Research and Program Evaluation Methodology national symposium, and articulate a set of 20 guiding principles for conducting research and program evaluation.

Provider and patient perspectives regarding health care for war-related health concerns.

Objective: To gain insight about Department of Defense providers' and health care beneficiaries' opinions regarding provider-patient communication of health care for post-deployment health concerns.

Methods: Thirty-five Department of Defense primary care providers and 14 military beneficiaries participated in focus groups at five military medical treatment facilities. We audiotaped, transcribed, and qualitatively analyzed semi-structured focus group interviews to determine attitudes and beliefs about war-related health concerns, symptoms, and health care quality.