A Word From Our Publisher

Greetings JSOM Newsletter Subscribers,


Will you be in Texas for the Texas EMS conference happening 11/19-11/22? If so, please be sure to stop by booth 365 and meet the Delta Development Team. The company specializes in battery powered, medical grade refrigeration units ideal for transporting vaccines, blood products, or temperature controlled medications in extreme environments.


Our Fall 2023 podcast is out! The new episode is currently streaming on our website and on Spotify. See the podcast section of this newsletter for more information.

Respectfully,

Michelle DuGuay Landers, MBA, BSN, RN

Breakaway Media, LLC

Publisher

Journal of Special Operations Medicine (JSOM)

Lt Col, USAF/NC (Ret)

publisher@jsomonline.org

www.JSOMonline.org

Purchase our Handbooks

A note about the newsletter design: This newsletter has been created using one cohesive font and a unified JSOM brand and color design. If the banner/header is missing and/or multiple fonts or unusual colors are appearing in your copy, it is a result of your personal settings or the settings attached to your email. For optimal viewing of this newsletter, we suggest opening the newsletter in a browser.
Journal of Special Operations Medicine Featured Abstracts

A Novel Scale to Assess Psychological Strategies in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians

Taylor MBarczak-Scarboro NEHernandez L. 23(3). 44 - 49. (Journal Article)

ABSTRACT


Purpose: This report describes the development and validation of the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Combat Mindset Scale-Training (CMS-T), a population-specific measure of psychological strategy use in EOD training environments. Methods: Scale items were developed by a working group composed of active-duty technicians from EOD Training and Evaluation Unit 1, Naval Health Research Center scientists, and a psychometrician. The working group developed 30 candidate items, which were administered to EOD accessions (new recruits), advanced students, and technicians (N = 164). Factor structure was explored with principal axis factoring and Varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization. Internal consistencies were established via Cronbach alpha, and convergent validity was evaluated with correlational and ANOVA models. Results: Five internally stable subscales were derived from 19 essential items, explaining 65% of total variance. The subscales were named relaxation, attentional-emotional control (AEC), goal setting-visualization (GSV), internal dialogue (ID), and automaticity. The most frequently used strategies were GSV and ID. Expected relationships emerged between strategies, most notably AEC and mental health. The scale also differentiated between subgroups. Conclusion: The EOD CMS-T demonstrates a stable factor structure, internal reliability, and convergent validity. This study yields a valid, practical, and easily administered instrument to support EOD training and evaluation.

Read More

Unconventional Resilience: A Strategic Framework

Jeschke EABaker JBWyma-Bradley JDorsch JHuffman SL. 23(3). 58 - 62. (Journal Article)


ABSTRACT


This will be the second in a series of nine articles in which we discuss findings from our ethnographic study entitled "The Impact of Catastrophic Injury Exposure on Resilience in Special Operations Surgical Teams." Our goal in this article is to establish the practical importance of redefining resilience within a strategic framework. Our bottom-up approach to strategy development explores unconventional resilience as an integrated transformational process that promotes change-agency through the force of movement. Synthesis of empirical data derived from participant interviews and focus groups highlights conceptual attributes that make up the essential components of this framework. To achieve our goal, the authors (1) briefly remind readers how we have problematized conventional resilience; (2) explain how we analyzed qualitative quotes to extrapolate our definition of unconventional resilience; and (3) describe in detail our strategic framework. We conclude by gesturing to why this strategic framework is applicable to practical performance of all Special Operation Forces (SOF) medics.

Read More

November 2023 Featured Article

Pain Control and Point-of-Care Ultrasound: An Approach to Rib Fractures for the Austere Provider

Snyder R, Brillhart DB. 23(3). 70 - 73. (Journal Article)

ABSTRACT


Rib fractures are common injuries that cause significant discomfort and can lead to severe pulmonary complications. Rib injury most often results from high-velocity traumatic mechanisms, while rarely representing underlying metastatic disease or secondary injury due to pulmonary illness. Because most rib fractures are caused by obvious trauma, algorithms are focused on treatment rather than investigating the exact mechanism of rib fractures. Chest radiographs are often the initial imaging performed but have proven to be unreliable in identification of rib fracture. Computed tomography (CT) is a diagnostic option as it is more sensitive and specific than simple radiographs. However, both modalities are generally unavailable to Special Operations Forces (SOF) medical personnel working in austere locations. These medical providers could potentially diagnose and treat rib fractures in any environment using a standardized approach that includes clarity of mechanism, pain relief, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). This case demonstrates an approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a rib fracture in a 47-year-old male who presented to a military treatment facility with unlocalized flank and back pain, but the methods employed have applicability to the austere provider working far from the resources of a medical center.


Keywords: POCUS; rib fracture; perineural block; prolotherapy; musculoskeletal ultrasound



Read More
The Journal of Special Operations Medicine Podcast

The JSOM podcast digs deeper into the articles and subjects that matter to our readers. Our podcast hosts, Captains Alex Merkle and Josh Randles, tackle articles from the journal based on merit, interest, and application for operators in the field. THE FALL 23 EPISODE IS HERE!

Current Episode


The Fall 2023 episode of the JSOM podcast is our most recent recording and is now available on our website and wherever you listen to podcasts.


JSOM Guest Medic EditorTechnical Sergeant Derek Fyksen will be reviewing Pain Control and Point-of-Care Ultrasound: An Approach to Rib Fractures for the Austere Provider. TSgt Fyksen is currently an Air Force PJ. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2011 and served three years at 1st Marine Raider Battalion before transferring to the Air Force to pursue becoming a Pararescueman in 2017. After his separation from the Air Force, Derek intends to pursue a joint MD/MPH program.


JSOM Guest Author Interview

Dr. Luc Saint-Jean is affiliated with the 1st Specialized Medical Unit, Versailles, France. He will be reviewing his article, Phosphorus Burn Management with Multimodal Analgesia.


Josh Randles will review Slow Intravenous Infusion of a Novel Damage Control Cocktail Decreases Blood Loss in a Pig Polytrauma Model.


Listen on our Website
Listen, Rate, and Review Our Podcast on Spotify

Please Support Our Sponsors and Media Partners

The Journal of Special Operations Medicine is proud to have the support of many great sponsors and media partners. Our sponsors are leaders in the field of military medical technology. Please help support these companies by following the links below to learn more about their missions and the products they offer. This section also features peridoic promtional information for events and conferences, including the 2023 SOMA Scientific Assembly. 

Institutional Subscribers

The JSOM is incredibly grateful to have the support of many institutions around the world. We would like to thank our recent institutional subscribers and re-subscribers for their support by acknowledging them in our eNewsletter and, when applicable, sharing their social media information.


Visit https://jsom.us/Library for a full list of institutions currently subscribing to the JSOM. We are beginning a campaign to expand our institutional subscriptions. If you think your company would benefit from an institutional subscription, let us know! We'll be happy to talk to you and get the ball rolling. You don't have to be a university or medical center to subscribe - we have many EMS units, government agencies, and military medical units in the United States and abroad.


Are you on the list? Great! Need to know how to access our resources? You can either contact your head librarian or shoot an email to subscriptions@JSOMonline.org.


Institutions receive a print copy of our journal, digital access, or both. Digital subscribers have unlimited access to our full compendium of articles, journals, and the ATP-P. If you are a student, researcher, doctor, or other medical professionals at one of these institutions, please contact your librarian for login details. Additionally, the digital resources are typically available 2-3 weeks ahead of print publication.


If your institution is not on the list and you want more information about our institutional access, contact our subscriptions manager, Dr. Scott Graverson.

Contact Dr. Graverson

Advertise with the Journal of Special Operations Medicine

For over 20 years, the Journal of Special Operations Medicine (JSOM) has brought important, lifesaving information to the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. And over the years, as our audience and readership has expanded into over 80 countries, physicians, military and tactical medics, and other medical professionals working in unconventional environments rely on the JSOM for breakthrough research at the intersection of operational medicine and tactical casualty care. Our peer-reviewed research and interactive clinical content make the JSOM a must-read for:


  • Physicians
  • Medics
  • Educators
  • Law Enforcement
  • The military and civilian global medical community


For these reasons, many of the world’s top medical technology companies and medical device distributors make the JSOM a cornerstone of their advertising programs. And with a strong multichannel and social media presence, the JSOM offers the most dynamic print and digital media options at cost-effective prices. For medical marketers worldwide looking to reach our niche audience, the JSOM is the gold standard. For more information, please see our attached media kit.


See Our Media Kit
Support the Journal of Special Operations Medicine
Photo of the Week

U.S. service members practice joint hoist training at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 2, 2023. Conducting routine hoist training allows operators to perfect their quick movement and recovery skills in the event of a real-world recovery mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)

DVIDS


While treating the casualty, Cadet team members assemble the ASIP radio and prepare a nine-line MedEvac report. Teams must evaluate the casualty, treat any injuries identified during evaluation, request medical evacuation in 9-line format using a ASIP radio, prepare the casualty for evacuation, and move the casualty to an exchange point.


Do You Have a Photo to Share?  

Please send us your approved medical action images for future covers, our journal Photo Gallery, bi-weekly eNewsletters, and JSOM social media! All images must include captions in the emails in which they are sent. Images for print must be high resolution, at least 300 dpi. Images for the eNewsletter and social media must be at least 400px wide, 72 dpi.  


Staff Directory
Facebook  Twitter  Linkedin  Instagram  



Breakaway Media, LLC, is a woman service-disabled veteran-owned small business (WOSB and SDVOSB) registered with the Central Contracting Office of the Department of Defense


DUNS #070397122 / Cage #6F0Z6

Primary SIC Code - 2721

 

Journal of Special Operations Medicine 

www.jsomonline.org 

subscriptions@jsomonline.org 




This disclaimer pertains to any publication (aka, "publications") written or electronic set forth by Breakaway Media, LLC (BAM) and includes, but is not limited to: The Journal of Special Operations Medicine (JSOM), social media posts to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, the JSOM eNewsletter, the JSOM website, and any promotional materials published by BAM. The views and opinions expressed in these publications are those of the authors, contributors, and sponsors of the JSOM and BAM, and do not necessarily reflect those of the JSOM, the JSOM Editorial Board ("the editorial board"), BAM, or its affiliates. Neither the JSOM, the editorial board, BAM, nor its affiliates hold themselves responsible for statements or products discussed in any BAM publications. Unless so stated, material in BAM publications does not reflect endorsement, official attitude, or position of the JSOM, the editorial board, BAM, or affiliates. Products advertised have not been tested by the JSOM, the editorial board, BAM, or its affiliates, and, as such, cannot be held liable for any injury or death caused by the use or misuse of the products contained herein. Neither BAM, the editorial board, nor its affiliates, make any warranty, representation, endorsement, or guarantee of products advertised, discussed, tweeted, retweeted, or shared any publication, to include the assumption of any liability whatsoever arising out of the application, use, or misuse of any product. As a medical publication, we are committed to sharing new technology and products we feel may be of interest to our readers, and encourage all readers and users of said products to use with caution and under proper authorization and professional guidance.


Tagging the JSOM on Instagram / Disclaimer

We assume by tagging us on Instagram, you are authorized to disseminate the photograph you are sharing with us. If you are a photographer whose image has been used or shared without authorization, please notify us immediately so we may give you proper credit.