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General Surgery

The Effect of Immersion Trauma Training on Resiliency and Hardiness in Military Medical Personnel

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Introduction/Purpose: “Hardiness” is a generalized mode of functioning that influences one’s interpretation of the world and helps to make sense of their experiences. It consists of three components: Challenge, Control, and Commitment. Together, these components facilitate a flexible, confident, and passionate approach to life that ensures a strong degree of resiliency. We believe these components, measured in conjunction with immersion trauma training, are important in the development of military medical students and their ability to respond and optimally perform in highly stressful and unexpected situations.

Methods or Case Description: We now have the results of participants from immersion training during the Intensive Surgical Skills Course. In this exercise students rotated through scenarios of increasing stress. Students took the Hardiness Resilience Gauge (HRG), a 28-item measure of hardiness, before and after the course. This measure results in a Total Hardiness score, along with scores on each of the Challenge, Control, and Commitment subscales.

Outcomes: On average, at both time points students scored in the Mid (90-110) to High (110-130) range for Total Hardiness, Challenge, Control, and Commitment. 2018 and 2019 scores were nearly identical. The average Total Hardiness scores increased from 112 to 117, p=0.00237. The average Challenge scores increased from 111 to 116, p=0.0192. The average Control scores increased from 112 to 117, p=0.0206. The average Commitment scores increased from 111 to 116, p=0.00322.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of immersion-based training exercises in increasing one’s resiliency and hardiness. These types of exercises can increase first responder readiness by training military units and medical personnel to perform their functions more effectively in active chaotic environments. The MHS Hardiness score is a first of its kind score verified in the US military.