Abstract
BACKGROUND: Military medical officers (MMOs) and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) serve critical roles within military healthcare teams, and a successful working relationship between them is essential for mission success. The purpose of this study is to explore our participant NCOs' insights into how MMOs and NCOs can foster positive working relationships.
METHODS: Utilizing a qualitative existential-phenomenological design, the research team interviewed eight medical NCOs twice through a focus group and individual interviews. Each interaction was transcribed and coded. Phenomenological analysis methods were applied to identify emergent themes.
RESULTS: Three interdependent themes were identified: (1) open communication, (2) trust in training, and (3) mutual mentorship. The MMO should establish and maintain open lines of communication. The MMO should understand NCO roles and abilities, and work to build trust through respect for their skills and contributions. Reciprocal learning is essential for professional development between MMOs and NCOs.
CONCLUSION: Potential methods to integrate training into existing medical school curricula include interprofessional mentorship training and high-fidelity military medical simulations with opportunities for structured feedback.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 44-49 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of special operations medicine : a peer reviewed journal for SOF medical professionals |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 4 Apr 2025 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Humans
- Military Medicine
- Military Personnel/psychology
- Trust
- Mentors
- Qualitative Research
- Focus Groups
- Communication
- Interprofessional Relations
- Male
- Interviews as Topic
- Female