Peer-Led Versus Authority-Led Video Intervention Effects on Musculoskeletal Injury Help-Seeking Intentions in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
Authors: Wooldridge Joshua D , Schilling Brian K , Young Daniel L , Radzak Kara N 
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) trainees are college students who complete military courses and participate in physical and tactical training under the direction of military Service Members assigned to ROTC programs to serve as faculty and staff at US colleges. ROTC trainees report musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) attributable to ROTC training in line with MSKI incidence in other training environments. However, concealment is prevalent, as 66% of MSKIs in ROTC go unreported. The current study investigated if a brief, online educational video could increase ROTC trainees’ reporting intentions. In addition, we investigated if the message’s source (i.e., peer or authority figure) affected reporting intentions.

Materials and Methods

A repeated measures design was used to evaluate the impact of 2 MSKI educational interventions, one delivered by a high-achieving Army ROTC trainee (peer-led) and the other delivered by an Army ROTC battalion commander (authority-led), on MSKI reporting intentions, as compared to each other and a control intervention. Other than their personal introductions, both individuals had the same script addressing 4 areas: (1) MSKI prevalence in ROTC, (2) evidence of improved outcomes with early treatment, (3) encouraging injury reporting, and (4) addressing specific barriers and stigma beliefs previously identified in ROTC. The control condition consisted of a video demonstrating exercise technique with voiceover. A survey was developed to measure stigma regarding MSKI reporting and intentions to seek help for MSKI. ROTC trainees at 23 universities were invited to participate via an anonymous survey link. Participants completed the following using an online survey platform: (1) pre-intervention MSKI intentions scale, (2) randomly assigned intervention video, and (3) repeat MSKI intentions scale post-intervention. A two-way mixed, ANOVA was performed to assess interaction effects and main effects pre- and post-intervention.

Results

One-hundred ROTC trainees (39% female; age = 21 ± 2 years, ROTC experience = 2 ± 1 years) completed the study. Participants were primarily from Army ROTC programs (72 Army, 14 Air Force, and 14 Naval). Pre-intervention survey scores (possible score range 8–56 with lower scores indicating greater intention to seek help): authority-led (n = 31) 20.3 ± 9.4, peer-led (n = 32) 21.8 ± 8.7, control (n = 37) 19.1 ± 10.1, total 20.3 ± 9.4. Post-intervention scores: authority-led 20.9 ± 11.2, peer-led 20.2 ± 10.0, control 17.3 ± 7.7, total 19.7 ± 9.3. There was no significant group*time interaction (F2,97 = 0.92, P = .403, η2partial = 0.02). There were no significant main effects for time (F1,97 = 1.461, P = .230, η2partial =0.015) or group (F2,97 = 1.08, P = .342, η2partial = 0.02).

Conclusions

Findings did not support the use of a single educational intervention video to influence MSKI help-seeking intentions of ROTC trainees. Intentions may already be ingrained such that a single intervention could not influence change. Previous research on concussion reporting indicates that concealment cultures may be systematic and indoctrination of concealment can influence one’s reporting intentions. Our sample had already participated in ROTC for 2 years. Future research should evaluate if MSKI help-seeking intentions change over the course of ROTC participation, or even over a military career.