Rigo Hoencamp1, Floris J Idenburg2, Eric Vermetten3, Edward Tan4, Marie-Christine Plat5, Erik Hoencamp6, Luke P H Leenen7, Jaap F Hamming8. 1. Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.hoencamp@lumc.nl. 2. Department of Surgery, Medical Centre Haaglanden, The Hague, The Netherlands. Electronic address: f.idenburg@mchaaglanden.nl. 3. Leiden University Medical Centre; Military Mental Health Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: hgjm.vermetten@mindef.nl. 4. Department of Surgery-Trauma surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: edward.Tan@radboudumc.nl. 5. Force Health Protection, Expert Centre Force Health Protection Ministry of Defense, The Netherlands. Electronic address: mj.plat@mindef.nl. 6. Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. Electronic address: erik@hoencamp.net. 7. Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: l.p.h.leenen@umcutrecht.nl. 8. Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.f.hamming@lumc.nl.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Care for battle casualties demands special skills from medics, nurses, and tactical commanders. To date, no inventory has been performed evaluating the first responders (medics, nurses and tactical commanders) around battle casualties. METHOD: This observational cohort study was conducted amongst the first responders (n=195) who were deployed to Southern Afghanistan (2009-2010) in three Marine companies. The survey focused on four main topics: (1) participants general background, (2) exposure to combat (casualty) situations, (3) self-perceived quality of care (1 [low]-10 [high]) in the pre-hospital phase, and (4) the effects of combat stressors on professional skills and social environment using the Post Deployment Reintegration Scale (PDRS) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). RESULTS: 71% of the eligible Dutch tactical commanders, medics, and nurses participated in this survey. Most (14/16) medics and nurses scored their pre-deployment training as sufficient The overall self-perceived quality of care score was above average (7.8). Most (80%) of the participants were exposed to battle casualties. There were no significant differences regarding rank, gender, age and military task using the impact of event scale and PDRS, except for a worse score on the work negative, family positive and personal positive subscales (p<0.05) in the PDRS for the first responders in comparison to the armed forces norm score. CONCLUSION: The quality of care in the pre-hospital phase was considered adequate, symptoms of post-traumatic stress in this group was low. Active involvement of co-combatants and the social support network are essential in adaption after exposure to combat events. Further research is necessary to identity predisposing preventable high stress factors, and to compose a "waterproof" aftercare programme.
INTRODUCTION: Care for battle casualties demands special skills from medics, nurses, and tactical commanders. To date, no inventory has been performed evaluating the first responders (medics, nurses and tactical commanders) around battle casualties. METHOD: This observational cohort study was conducted amongst the first responders (n=195) who were deployed to Southern Afghanistan (2009-2010) in three Marine companies. The survey focused on four main topics: (1) participants general background, (2) exposure to combat (casualty) situations, (3) self-perceived quality of care (1 [low]-10 [high]) in the pre-hospital phase, and (4) the effects of combat stressors on professional skills and social environment using the Post Deployment Reintegration Scale (PDRS) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). RESULTS: 71% of the eligible Dutch tactical commanders, medics, and nurses participated in this survey. Most (14/16) medics and nurses scored their pre-deployment training as sufficient The overall self-perceived quality of care score was above average (7.8). Most (80%) of the participants were exposed to battle casualties. There were no significant differences regarding rank, gender, age and military task using the impact of event scale and PDRS, except for a worse score on the work negative, family positive and personal positive subscales (p<0.05) in the PDRS for the first responders in comparison to the armed forces norm score. CONCLUSION: The quality of care in the pre-hospital phase was considered adequate, symptoms of post-traumatic stress in this group was low. Active involvement of co-combatants and the social support network are essential in adaption after exposure to combat events. Further research is necessary to identity predisposing preventable high stress factors, and to compose a "waterproof" aftercare programme.
Authors: Rigo Hoencamp; Floris J Idenburg; Thijs T C F van Dongen; Loes G M de Kruijff; Eelco P Huizinga; Marie-Christine J Plat; Erik Hoencamp; Luke P H Leenen; Jaap F Hamming; Eric Vermetten Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-02-02 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Frederike J C Haverkamp; Tristan A J van Leest; Måns Muhrbeck; Rigo Hoencamp; Andreas Wladis; Edward C T H Tan Journal: World J Emerg Surg Date: 2022-03-05 Impact factor: 5.469
Authors: Frederike J C Haverkamp; Harald Veen; Rigo Hoencamp; Måns Muhrbeck; Johan von Schreeb; Andreas Wladis; Edward C T H Tan Journal: World J Surg Date: 2018-11 Impact factor: 3.352