Page 86 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Summer 2015

Table 2 Response Scores by Group*
Overall Active Duty Retiree Dependant Other
Question (N = 280) (n = 143) (n = 15) (n = 101) (n = 21) p Value †
1 1.4 (0.64) 1.3 (0.60) 1.4 (0.91) 1.4 (0.66) 1.3 (0.58) 0.153
2 1.6 (0.71) 1.5 (0.71) 1.5 (0.64) 1.6 (0.65) 1.8 (0.94) 0.324
3 1.6 (0.72) 1.6 (0.74) 1.7 (0.82) 1.7 (0.64) 1.8 (0.94) 0.458
4 1.7 (0.82) 1.8 (0.91) 1.7 (0.82) 1.7 (0.67) 1.7 (0.86) 0.931
5 1.7 (0.75) 1.7 (0.79) 1.7 (0.82) 1.7 (0.67) 1.7 (0.78) 0.803
6 1.6 (0.68) 1.6 (0.72) 1.4 (0.63) 1.6 (0.62) 1.6 (0.80) 0.449
Notes: *Data given as mean score (standard deviation).
† Nonparametric one-way analysis of variance (Kruskal-Wallis test).

respondent group. Table 3 outlines the number and hesitation from the staff and providers in allowing the
percentage of responses by respondent group. Figure 1 Combat medics to perform duties within their skillset.
shows the distribution of responses by LS categories. Activities like basic lifesaving procedures or medication
administration are rarely performed by the medics when
functioning at military hospitals (personal communi-
Discussion
cation with US Army ED chiefs, June–August 2014).
This study highlights several factors that must be con- Various reasons are often cited, including the Joint Com-
sidered by supervising providers. At the study site, there mission regulations, medicolegal liability, patient safety,
are specific policies prohibiting medics from performing and encroachment onto nursing duties. However, at this
many TCCC activities. This suggests there is significant time, it does not appear these are grounded in regulation

Figure 1 Distribution of Responses by Category.

Table 3 Responses by Question Number and Answer*
Neither Agree
Question Strongly Agree Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree
1 71.4 (200) 23.6 (66) 3.6 (10) 1.1 (3) 0.4 (1)
2 54.3 (152) 37.9 (106) 6.1 (17) 1.4 (4) 0.4 (1)
3 50.4 (141) 39.6 (111) 8.9 (25) 0.4 (1) 0.7 (2)
4 45.4 (127) 40.7 (114) 10.7 (30) 2.1 (6) 1.1 (3)
5 46.8 (131) 41.8 (117) 9.3 (26) 1.8 (5) 0.4 (1)
6 52.1 (146) 40.0 (112) 6.8 (19) 0.7 (2) 0.4 (1)
Note: *Data given as % (No.).

76 Journal of Special Operations Medicine Volume 15, Edition 2/Summer 2015