title: Improvements in compliance with medical force protection measures by simplification of the anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis regime.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Medical Force Protection (MFP) is important in keeping service personnel "fit to fight." It is particularly important for overseas deployment, where personnel are exposed to a range of infectious diseases. We report a full audit cycle assessing compliance with medical force protection measures, on an exercise in Belize.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous questionnaire was administered to personnel four weeks after returning from an Infantry Overseas Training Exercise (OTX) in Belize in two successive years (OTX 1 & 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compliance with physical MFP measures (mosquito nets, insecticide soak of kit and personal insect repellent usage) was excellent on both exercises. Antimalarial chemoprophylaxis compliance with a regime of weekly chloroquine and daily proguanil was poor (30%) during OTX 1. Revision of the regime to weekly chloroquine alone following review of antimalarial policies increased compliance on OTX 2 to 67%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simplification of dosage regimes, consistency of information provided between different medical briefs and emphasis of the threat from malaria in Belize significantly improved compliance with antimalarial chemoprophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Army Medical Directorate, FASC, Camberley.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Sellers
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001531:Belize; D018890:Chemoprevention; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000517:prevention & control; D007306:Insecticides; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008889:Military Personnel; D057147:Mosquito Nets; D026023:Permethrin; D002727:Proguanil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D007306:Insecticides; D026023:Permethrin; D002738:Chloroquine; D004318:Doxycycline; D002727:Proguanil