Train for the Game: What is the Learning Environment of Deployed Navy Emergency Medicine Physicians?

Abstract

Problem When the training environment differs from the practice environment learners may encounter situations for which they are unprepared. Additionally, medicine is a practice characterized by ongoing learning, and unique qualities of the operational learning environment (LE) may affect learner needs. Using a conceptual framework specific to the LE we therefore asked the following research question: what is the difference in LE for Navy Emergency Medicine (EM) physicians who train in US hospitals but practice in an operational environment, and how do these differences shape their learning needs? Methods We interviewed Navy EM physicians who recently deployed to explore their perceptions of the deployed LE, how it differed from the LE they trained in, and the perceived effect this difference had on their learning needs. We used the constant comparative method to gather and analyze data until thematic saturation was achieved. Results We interviewed 12 physicians and identified six interconnected themes consistent with the LE framework in the literature: 1) Patient care is central to the learning experience 2) Professional isolation vs. connectedness 3) A sense of meaningful practice engages the learner in the LE 4) Physicians as educators shape the LE 5) Team trust impacts the LE 6) The larger military organization impacts the LE. Conclusions Our themes span the conceptual framework put forth by Gruppen et al. and did not find themes outside this framework. These interconnected themes describe the difference in LE between the stateside and deployed setting and impact the learning needs of Navy Emergency Medicine physicians. These results inform strategies to position the deployed medical unit for success.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 19, 2020
Accession Number
AD1186101

Entities

People

  • Nicole D. Hurst

Organizations

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blood Transfusions
  • Combat Casualty Care
  • Combat Injuries
  • Combat Operations
  • Combat Readiness
  • Combat Support
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Education
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Medicine
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Patient Care
  • Personnel Management
  • Physicians
  • Training
  • United States
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Agent-Based Social Robotics and Mobile-Assisted Learning in Virtual Environments.
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Organizational Psychology.