The acceptability of 'Trauma Risk Management' within the UK Armed Forces

Abstract

Trauma-support programmes may benefit employees of organizations that routinely expose their staff to traumatic events. However, in order for such programmes to be effective, staff need to find them acceptable. To investigate whether Trauma Risk Management (TRiM), an example of such a programme, is acceptable within a military population and whether it is viewed as complementing or replacing pre-existing personnel support systems. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with serving Royal Navy personnel who had served on one of six ships, which had received TRiM training some 12-18 months previously. Three hundred and thirty interview transcripts were subjected to qualitative analysis and themed categories were generated. The majority of personnel who were aware of TRiM were supportive of its aims. TRiM was also viewed as supplementing other personnel support measures rather than replacing them. Personnel interviewed thought that TRiM practitioners needed to be carefully selected, supported by line management and to pay particular attention to the issue of confidentiality. The TRiM system appeared generally acceptable to military personnel and is seen to supplement rather than replace existing mechanisms. However, these data support careful selection of potential TRiM practitioners and demonstrate the need for senior management support for the system if it is to be accepted by those who might benefit from its use.