NCT04067401

Career Enhancement Training Study (USAF)

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1,485 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Rochester · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

A study evaluating a training program to decrease risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among early career trainees in the United States Air Force.

Detailed description

Relationship disruptions and social isolation are major precipitants for military suicides and a range of problems that impair functioning and reduce mission readiness. However, nearly all current military suicide prevention programming focuses on a narrow range of approaches for individuals already at high-risk (e.g., training to detect warning signs and refer for treatment services). This project addresses the need for universal prevention approaches to proactively strengthen protective factors across military populations, including strengthening social connectedness and skills to grow and sustain relationships across service. The aims of this project are to (a) develop an intervention for early-career, enlisted United States Air Force personnel using an active training approach to strengthening social bonds, and (b) test the intervention (i.e., Wingman-Connect) using a randomized controlled trial design. Wingman-Connect focuses on Airman-in-Training to build protective factors in: Kinship (healthy bonds); Guidance (support from mentors and mental health); Purpose (goals, sense of being valued and valuable); and Balance (self-care and support). Half of the training is focused on the class as a group to build belonging and shared purpose.

Conditions

• Suicidal Ideation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Wingman Connect	Wingman-Connect combines group and individual skill training. Group exercises build cohesion, belonging and shared purpose, and promote value of healthy unit, giving and receiving support. Individual skills promote the ability to thrive during transitions, manage stressors and meet career goals, and decrease barriers to utilizing organizational resources (family, health). The training has a total of 22 modules comprised of specific learning objectives and activities. Six months of text messages (1-2 per week) to reinforce and extend program concepts and skills.
BEHAVIORAL	Stress Management	Stress management training reviews the basics of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis stress-response system; common experiences of stress (physiological, cognitive, emotional); the impact of chronic stress on the brain and other domains of health; how exercise reduces harmful effects of stress; and relaxation techniques that have been shown to reduce stress and adverse effects of stress on health. Additional modules review the physiological stress response and effects of stress on health; introduces how cognition influences stress responses; common cognitive distortions/attributions are reviewed that affect stress including strategies to strengthen protective cognitive responses. Six months of text messages (1-2 per week) to reinforce and extend program concepts and skills.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-10-03
• Primary completion: 2019-09-02
• Completion: 2019-09-02
• First posted: 2019-08-26
• Last updated: 2020-07-08
• Results posted: 2020-07-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States