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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04067401

Career Enhancement Training Study (USAF)

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

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Key information

Conditions

Suicidal Ideation Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Self-Injurious Behavior Suicide

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Sheppard Air Force Base

Wichita Falls, Texas, 76311-9999, United States

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Airmen-in-Training (AiT) in Technical Training classes in the 365 or 363 Training Squadrons of the 82 Training Wing (82 TRW)
  • Eligible classes must be between 37-91 class days in length

Exclusion criteria

  • Airmen from other countries receiving training in US
  • Airmen who are not in their first year of enlistment

Treatment and study plan

Wingman Connect

Behavioral

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.

Stress Management

Behavioral

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean Computerized Adaptive Testing for Suicide Severity

    Time frame: 6 months

    Participants will complete a computerized adaptive test for suicide severity. Participants will answer questions about their mental health. Participant scores will range from 0-100 with 100 indicating higher likelihood of current suicidal ideation and higher risk for suicide attempt.

  2. Mean Computerized Adaptive Testing for Suicide Severity

    Time frame: 1 month

    Participants will complete a computerized adaptive test for suicide severity. Participants will answer questions about their mental health. Participant scores will range from 0-100 with 100 indicating higher likelihood of current suicidal ideation and higher risk for suicide attempt.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean Computerized Adaptive Testing for Depression

    Time frame: 6 months

    Participants will complete a computerized adaptive test for depression. Participants will answer questions about their mental health. Participant scores will range from 0-100 with 100 indicating higher risk for clinical depression.

  2. Computerized Adaptive Testing for Depression

    Time frame: 1 month

    Participants will complete a computerized adaptive test for depression. Participants will answer questions about their mental health. Participant scores will range from 0-100 with 100 indicating higher risk for clinical depression.

  3. Mean Behavioral Occupational Performance Outcomes

    Time frame: 6 months

    Participants will complete 5 yes/no questions about job performance, including if superior has expressed concerns about work performance, if Airman has received corrective training for substandard performance, received a negative counseling statement, received a Letter of Reprimand. The sum of affirmative responses will be calculated. Scores will range from 0-5 with 5 indicating greater work impairment.

  4. Mean Behavioral Occupational Performance Outcomes

    Time frame: 1 month

    Participants will complete 5 yes/no questions about job performance, including if superior has expressed concerns about work performance, if Airman has received corrective training for substandard performance, received a negative counseling statement, received a Letter of Reprimand. The sum of affirmative responses will be calculated. Scores will range from 0-5 with 5 indicating greater work impairment.

  5. Mean Class Cohesion

    Time frame: 1 month

    Participants will complete a 3-item scale on how well members of their class cooperate, can depend on each other and stand up for each other. Scores range from 0 to 4 with higher scores indicating higher class cohesion.

  6. Mean Number of Positive Connections to Classmates

    Time frame: 1 month

    Participants will be asked to name up to 5 other students in their class who they respect and would choose to spend time with. Participants can name 0-5 classmates.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Rochester

Other

Collaborators

  • United States Department of Defense

Registry information

Acronym: CETS

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Aug 26, 2019
Registry last updated
Jul 8, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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