Well-being at a Military Medical School and Implications for Military Retention

Authors

Michael Soh, Center for Health Professions Education, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Jessica Bunin, Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Sebastian Uijtdehaage, Center for Health Professions Education, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Anthony R. Artino, Department of Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
Erin S. Barry, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Steven J. Durning, Center for Health Professions Education, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Neil E. Grunberg, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Ryan R. Landoll, Department of Family Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Ashley Maranich, Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Lisa K. Moores, Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Jessica Servey, Department of Family Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Dario Torre, Department of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA.
Pamela M. Williams, Department of Family Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Ting Dong, Center for Health Professions Education, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

5-18-2023

Journal

Military medicine

Volume

188

Issue

Suppl 2

DOI

10.1093/milmed/usac120

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Physical and psychological well-being play a critical role in the academic and professional development of medical students and can alter the trajectory of a student's quality of personal and professional life. Military medical students, given their dual role as officer and student, experience unique stressors and issues that may play a role in their future intentions to continue military service, as well as practice medicine. As such, this study explores well-being across the 4 years of medical school at Uniformed Services University (USU) and how well-being relates to a student's likelihood to continue serving in the military and practicing medicine. METHODS: In September 2019, 678 USU medical students were invited to complete a survey consisting of three sections-the Medical Student Well-being Index (MSWBI), a single-item burnout measure, and six questions regarding their likelihood of staying in the military and medical practice. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and contingency table analysis. Additionally, thematic analysis was conducted on open-ended responses included as part of the likelihood questions. RESULTS: Our MSWBI and burnout scores suggest that the overall state of well-being among medical students at USU is comparable to other studies of the medical student population. ANOVA revealed class differences among the four cohorts, highlighted by improved well-being scores as students transitioned from clerkships to their fourth-year curriculum. Fewer clinical students (MS3s and MS4s), compared to pre-clerkship students, indicated a desire to stay in the military. In contrast, a higher percentage of clinical students seemed to "reconsider" their medical career choice compared to their pre-clerkship student counterparts. "Medicine-oriented" likelihood questions were associated with four unique MSWBI items, whereas "military-oriented" likelihood questions were associated with one unique MSWBI item. CONCLUSION: The present study found that the overall state of well-being in USU medical students is satisfactory, but opportunities for improvement exist. Medical student well-being seemed to have a stronger association with medicine-oriented likelihood items than with military-oriented likelihood items. To obtain and refine best practices for strengthening engagement and commitment, future research should examine if and how military and medical contexts converge and diverge throughout training. This may enhance the medical school and training experience and, ultimately, reinforce, or strengthen, the desire and commitment to practice and serve in military medicine.

APA Citation

Soh, Michael; Bunin, Jessica; Uijtdehaage, Sebastian; Artino, Anthony R.; Barry, Erin S.; Durning, Steven J.; Grunberg, Neil E.; Landoll, Ryan R.; Maranich, Ashley; Moores, Lisa K.; Servey, Jessica; Torre, Dario; Williams, Pamela M.; and Dong, Ting, "Well-being at a Military Medical School and Implications for Military Retention" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 2885.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/2885

Department

Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences