Well-being in Military Reserve Health Care Providers Post Deployment or Mobilization

Abstract

Purpose: To describe well-being in military reserve health care providers post deployment or mobilization Background: A comprehensive literature review exhibited that during a deployment or mobilization, military health care providers endure stressful and uncomfortable situations, spend time away from their family, friends and usual home comforts leaving them feeling completely changed. These circumstances can negatively affect a provider’s well-being. Moreover, although the literature outlines military and psychological symptoms including combat stressors, mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety, job stress, work performance and resiliency, there is a gap in the literature regarding well-being among military health care providers post deployment or mobilization. Methods: This project used a qualitative descriptive methodology with face-to-face interviews to describe the phenomenon of well-being among three United States reserve military health care providers post deployment or mobilization. Data was collected using semi-structured, open ended questions, allowing the participants an opportunity to discuss and further elaborate on their experiences, perspectives and feelings. Each interview began with pre-established questions and further questions and discussions were guided by the participants’ earlier responses. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed into text, allowing me to identify commonalities of experiences, perspectives and feelings among the participants. Results: Analysis of the interview data revealed information associated with transitions and can be grouped into five categories. The categories that impacted the participants’ well-being post deployment or mobilization include: separation from family and friends, austere living conditions, exhaustion from long work hours, consecutive work days without days off and being unprepared for what was to come. Implications: This project describes well-being in military reserve health care providers post deployment or mobilization. Findings from this small project may be used to develop research studies to describe and understand the concept of well-being among military health care providers. Armed with better understanding, we could then develop interventions to prepare our military health care providers to deliver high quality care during overseas deployment or mobilization while also maintaining their physical and mental well-being.