Name
#5 - The Development and Evaluation of Self-reported Lifetime Blast Exposure Measures
Date & Time
Monday, February 12, 2024, 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Description

Blast overpressure gauges are promising tools for quantifying blast exposure in real time and correlating it to health outcomes; however, the technology’s applications remain limited and these devices cannot address cumulative lifetime exposures. In the absence of reliable blast gauge data, there is a need for carefully-crafted inventories to quantify and record lifetime histories of blast exposure in service members (SMs) and veterans. Many SMs have complex histories including multiple deployments, head injuries and exposures to various levels of blast in both training and operational environments. Blast exposure measures such as the Blast Exposure Threshold Survey (BETS), Salisbury Blast Interview (SBI), and Blast Frequency and Symptom Severity (B-FASS) have been developed but did not fit the specific needs of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE). Therefore, with the goal of gathering blast exposure data and improving the characterization of patient populations, in 2020 NICoE completed a project utilizing systematic, iterative focus groups that leveraged subject matter experts, NICoE clinical providers, and NICoE active duty patients and to provide input to develop a comprehensive, self-report blast exposure inventory which can be completed in 5-10 minutes. The resulting inventory, known as the NICoE Blast Ordnance and Occupational exposure Measure (BOOM), is comprised of a matrix broken down by weapon systems where individuals are asked to provide estimated blast exposures including both operational and training based exposures as well incoming versus outgoing exposures for each weapon system. Currently, the psychometric properties of the BOOM and other blast exposure measures such as the BETS and B-FASS have yet to be evaluated. Therefore, the intent of this abstract is the describe the current WRNMMC IRB approved protocol titled “Evaluation of Self-reported Lifetime Blast Exposure Measures”. The objective of this project is to assess the test-retest reliability and convergent validity of self-reported blast exposure measures (BOOM, BETS, and B-FASS) to prepare for future use in clinical care and research investigations as well as examine associations with long-term health outcomes. If successful, this project will provide one or multiple psychometrically validated assessments that can be used to collect standardized lifetime blast information. This fills a current gap in military healthcare as there is as yet no validated self-report assessment to collect lifetime blast exposure in service members, in spite of the high occurrence of blast exposures in service members in training and combat settings. This will allow for the future integration of a standardized lifetime blast assessment across the evolving Defense Intrepid Network for TBI and Brain Health. In addition, the short time of administration and self-reported nature of the assessment enables comprehensive blast information to be collected and reviewed by a provider prior to clinical appointments.

Location Name
Prince Georges Exhibit Hall A/B
Content Presented on Behalf of
DHA
Learning Outcomes
1.Understand the MHS gap in validated self-reported blast exposure measures
2.Describe the stakeholder driven development of the NICoE BOOM
3.Describe the current WRNMMC IRB research protocol focused on evaluating self-reported blast exposure measures and potential outcomes
Session Type
Posters
Dropdown Content Presented On Behalf Of:
DHA