Iranian Journal of War and Public Health
Year:2016 | Volume:8 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

Aims Exercise therapy intervening methods are used by physical medicine and rehabilitation therapists to increase the capability to keep balance and independent functioning in the lower limb amputees. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the selective balance program on postural control in the lower limb amputees under manipulation of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive sensory systems.Materials & Methods In the semi-experimental study, 14 amputees with under the knee amputation referred to Tehran Red Crescent Rehabilitation Center were studied in ….The subjects selected via available sampling method were divided into two 7-person groups including “control” and “selective postural” groups. Sensory organization test was used to assess postural control and balance of the subjects by computerized dynamic post urography system. Data was analyzed by SPSS 19 software using composed factor ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni post-hoc test.Findings There was an increase in the balance and postural control in the posttest step in exercise therapy group than control group. In the posttest step in postural group, alignment and strategy scores of the first (presence of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive senses) and the second (elimination of vision and manipulation of vestibular and proprioceptive senses) situations were higher than other situations, while the score of displacement of the center of gravity in the mentioned situations was less than other situations. In the posttest step in postural group, postural and strategy scores and the score of displacement of the center of gravity in the sixth (manipulation of vestibular and proprioceptive senses) situation were less and higher than other situations, respectively.Conclusion A course of selective exercise therapy program leads to a reduction in the displacement amplitude and an enhancement in alignment, as well as an increase in strategy, in persons with under the knee amputation, showing increases in balance and postural control.

Aims Post-amputation rehabilitation can improve the quality of life. Prosthesis evaluation questionnaire (PEQ) has been designed to evaluate the prosthetic functioning and major aspects of the quality of life in persons with lower-limb amputations. The aim of this study was to translate the questionnaire into Persian and evaluate validity and reliability of the translation.Instrument & Methods The study was done qualitatively and quantitatively. Firstly, prosthesis evaluation questionnaire was translated into Persian and localized. To evaluate formal validity, the questionnaire was completed by 17 lower-limb amputees referred to Kowsar orthotics and prosthesis center. Its content validity was evaluated by 15 prosthesis experts. Using test-retest method, the questionnaire was completed by 70 amputees referred to the center in 2015. The amputees were selected by simple non-probability method. The questionnaire was completed by 22 of the amputees after 2 weeks, again. Data was analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha, relative repetition coefficient, and impact score.Findings The impact score of all the items of the questionnaire was more than 1.5 and favorable. Excluding formal scale and relative repetition coefficient, Cronbach’s alpha was more than the favorable level (0.7) in other scales.Conclusion Validity and reliability of the Persian version of prosthesis evaluation questionnaire are favorable, and the version can be used to assess prosthesis and major aspects of the quality of life in the Iranian amputees.

Aims PTSD in the veterans can affect the quality of life and happiness in their family members including their spouses. Nevertheless, some factors can reduce mental problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the PTSD intensity and the perceived social support and mental happiness and quality of life in the spouses of the veterans with PTSD.Instrument & Methods In the descriptive-correlational study, 302 spouses of the veterans with PTSD living in Mashhad were studied in 2014. The subjects were selected via available sampling method. Data was collected using post-traumatic stress disorder checklist, quality of life questionnaire, Oxford happiness inventory, and perceived social support scale. Data was analyzed by SPSS 21 software using Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman correlation, Eta-squared correlation, and stepwise regression analysis.Findings There were direct and reverse correlations between metal happiness and quality of life and the perceived social support and the PTSD intensity, respectively (p<0.001). Totally, 64% of the variance of quality of life were explained by the perceived social support, the PTSD intensity, and the economic status. In addition, 75% of the variance of the spouse’s mental happiness were explained by the perceived social support, the PTSD intensity, and the educational status.Conclusion Any enhancement in the perceived social support and reduction in the PTSD intensity in veterans leads to the enhancement of the quality of life in veterans’ spouses.

Aims The spouses of the veterans suffering bad situtations due to the physical and mental problems of the veterans are in mental risks in turn and with no suitable quality of life. It seems that some educations can enhance their quality of life and reduce their mental pressures. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of life skills trainings on mental health of the spouses of the veterans with mood disorders.Instrument & Methods In the pretest-posttest semi-experimental study with a control group, 50 spouses of the veterans with mood disorders referred to Tehran Sadr Psychiatric Hospital were studied in 2013.The subjects were selected via available sampling method, randomly devided into two groups including experimental and control groups. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire and general health questionnaire (GHQ-28). Ten 120-minute life skills training sessions were weekly conducted in experimental group. Data was analyzed using covariance analysis test.Findings There was a significant difference between the groups in the posttest stage with pretest effects controlling in the mean scores of life skills in general health and sub-sclaes including physical symptoms, anxity symptoms, and defects in the social functionnings (p<0.05). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in the depression symptoms subscale (p>0.05).Conclusion Life skills trainings can enhance general health (physical symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and defects in the social functionnings) of the spouces of the veterans with mood disorders.

Aims The war damages affect not only the veterans, but also their family performances including family cohesion and adaptability. Therefore, investigating the veterans’ family cohesion and adaptability is very important. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between spirituality and forgiveness and marital cohesion and adaptability.Instrument & Methods In the descriptive-correlational study, 105 veterans enrolled by Shahrood and Mayamey Martyrs and Veterans Foundation and their spouses were studied in 2014. The subjects were selected using chain sampling. Data was collected using spiritual experience scale, forgiveness scale, and marital adaptability and cohesion scale. Data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression.Findings Maximum correlation coefficients were between life meaningfulness (r=0.37) and religious social activities (r=0.37) and family cohesion. In addition, maximum correlation coefficient was between religious social activities (r=0.40) and family adaptability (p<0.01).Totally, 27% of family cohesion variance was explained by connection to God (15%), realistic understanding (10%), and control and forgiveness (2%). In addition, 18% of family adaptability were explained by religious and social activities (10%), realistic understanding (4%), and control and forgiveness (4%; p<0.05).Conclusion Enhancement of spirituality and forgivness in the veterans and their spouses leads to higher family cohesion and adaptability.

Aims Based on the studies, there are processes in resting interval following learning, through which the trained skills are transferred into the long-term memory structures. Such a process is called the consolidation process. There are conflicting results following studies about the effects of different off-line periods on the consolidation process in the motor memory. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different off-line periods on the enhance based consolidation process in the implicit motor memory in veteran and disabled athletes.Instrument & Methods In the semi-experimental study, 45 male veteran and disabled athletes with physical motor disabilities were studied in Yazd in 2015.The subjects were selected via available sampling and randomly divided into three experimental groups with 6-, 24-, and 72-hour off-line periods. The test was done in two steps including learning and retention using alternating serial reaction time task (ASRTT). Data was analyzed using repeated measures two-factor ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni’s post-hoc tests.Findings In the skill learning step, the major effect of the group and the interaction effect of the group and the training package were not significant. Nevertheless, the major effect of the training package was solely significant (p=0.002). In addition, in the retention step, the major effect of the group and the interaction effect of the training package and the group were not significant. Nevertheless, the major effect of the training package was significant (p=0.001).The functioning of three groups in the retention package was better than the fifth package in the learning step.Conclusion The off-line period and especially a 72-hour interval after the training and skill learning step can enhance the consolidation process in the implicit motor memory in the veteran and disabled athletes.

Aims Resilience is a person’s positive adaptation capability responding life problematic situations. And due its importance, making proper instruments to measure it is noticed by the researchers. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of a Persian version of brief resilience scale in veteran athletes and athletes with physical disabilities.Instrument & Methods In this study, 168 athletes including veterans and persons with physical disabilities (100 male and 68 female athletes) were studied in Tehran in 2015. The subjects, randomly selected in different skill levels and sports, were with injuries in one of the body joints (waist, thighs, knees, etc.). A Persian version of brief Connor-Davidson resilience scale was studied. To investigate structure validity of Persian version of brief resilience scale, SEM-based confirmatory factor analysis was used. Cronbach’s alpha and intra-class correlation coefficient were used to determine internal consistency and temporal reliability, respectively.Findings The fitness indices showed structural validity and favorable fitness of Persian version of brief resilience scale. In addition, there were acceptable internal consistency (alpha=0.76) and temporal reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient=0.76).Conclusion Validity and reliability of Persian version of brief resilience scale are acceptable in the veteran athletes and athletes with physical disabilities.

Aims As one of the major bases to improve the society health, the empowerment improves self-care behaviors and health in the client. Since the spouses of the veterans are the first care and support resource for their wives, they can play an important role to empower their wives. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of the spouses of the chemically injured veterans in their spouses’ empowerment.Participants & Methods In the qualitative study done by the descriptive phenomenological method, 11 spouses of the chemically injured veterans enrolled by Isfahan Martyrs and Veterans Foundation, who were living with their spouses, were studied in 2012. The subjects were selected via purposeful sampling method. Data, collected through semi-structured and deep interview, were analyzed by Colaizzi’s seven-step method.Findings From 217 primary codes gathered by the interviews, 16 conceptual sub-structures were obtained. The sub-structures were planning, relaxation, self-belief, support, role exchange, role play, cooperation, empathy, avoiding hopelessness, worthiness, sacrifice, beliefs and values, knowing the disease, social attitude, adaptation with the circumstances, and reconciliation with life. The sub-structures were classified under two major titles as “action for empowerment” and “personal capabilities of the spouses”.Conclusion After years of mutual living with a chemically injured veteran, the experiences of the spouse include two major concepts as “action for empowerment” and “personal capabilities of the spouses”. It shows that the spouses, besides different roles such as a spouse, a nurse, and a medication help, experience different problems and experimentally done effective works to empower their own spouses.