Iranian Journal of War and Public Health
Year:2017 | Volume:9 | Issue:2|Papers Count:12

AimsAny success in sport contests depends on mental preparation, alongside the physical and technical readiness, in the veteran and disabled athletes. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the neuro-linguistic programming strategies training courses on the mental toughness in the veteran and disabled athletes.Materials & MethodsIn the controlled pretest-posttest semi-experimental study, 30 male veteran and disabled athletes with physical-motor disabilities were studied in Tabriz in 2016.The subjects, selected via available sampling method from GFT Sitting Volleyball Team, were randomly divided into two groups including experimental (n=15 persons) and control (n=15 persons) groups. Data was collected by Sheard et al. Questionnaire for mental toughness. After the pretest, sixteen 30-minute training sessions of neuro-linguistic programming strategies were conducted in experimental group. Data was analyzed using multivariate ANCOVA.FindingsAt the posttest stage, the mean score of mental toughness in experimental group was significantly higher than control group (p=0.001). The mean scores of confidence (p=0.026) and control (p=0.001) in experimental group were significantly higher than control group.However, the groups were not significantly different in sustainability (p=0.673).ConclusionImproving their sport activities, teaching the neuro-linguistic programming strategies affects the mental toughness in the veteran and disabled athletes.

Aims One of the most important programs of the policymakers, legislators, and administrators is to protect the general health of the citizens and especially, of the veterans. The occupational therapy includes the daily activities such as sleeping and rest, education, occupation, recreation, ad social participation. The aim of the qualitative study was to investigate the effects of unemployment mood on the veterans’ general health.Participants and Methods In the qualitative study, 25 male veterans, who were eligible for the employment law, were studied in Tehran City, Iran, in 2009. Interviews were done via data saturation method. Data was collected by open, semi-open, and semi-structured interviews.Verbal informed consents were taken, and the subjects were informed of anonymity and confidentiality of information, with their right to withdraw at any stage of the interviews.Findings Totally, 45 sub-themes were extracted from the interviews. The sub-themes were categorized under 5 themes, including family problems, social problems, physical problems, mental problems, and financial problems, their most important sub-themes were dissatisfaction with the families and reduced family management role, reduced relationship with others, feeling of premature aging, sadness and feeling to be not useful, and lower financial helps than the occupation period, respectively.Conclusion The veterans and their children suffer a feeling of to be burden in society more than the financial problems and unemployment. Nowadays, it is necessary to formulate employment laws aiming at the effects of activities and job on the citizens’ health. In addition, the administrators should attempt to pass supporting laws aiming at proper occupations for the veterans to enhance public health.

Aims Exposed to the war and chemical weapons, the veterans experience severe mental reactions. One of such experiences is the death coming feeling that finally leads to some disorders such as death depression and death anxiety. The aim of the study was to compare the death depression and anxiety in the chemically-injured and non-chemically-injured veterans in Sardasht Township.Instrument & MethodsIn the comparative-causal descriptive study, 100 veterans including 50 chemically-injured and 50 non-chemically-injured veterans of Sardasht Township were studied in 2016. The subjects were selected via available sampling method. Data was collected by the death anxiety index and the death depression questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS 16 software using MANOVA and independent T test.FindingsThe mean score of death anxiety in the chemically-injured veterans was significantly higher than the non-chemically-injured veterans (p=0.001). The mean scores of death hoplessness, death failure, and total depression score in the chemically-injured veterans were significantly higher then the non-chemically-injured veterans (p=0.001). Nevertheless, the mean scores of loneliness and death acceptance were not significantly different in the groups, respectively (p>0.05).Conclusion The levels of death anxiety and death depression in the chemically-injured veterans of Sardasht Township were higher than the non-chemically-injured veterans.

Aims Caused by prosthesis, the kinematic and kinetic pattern changes during walking in persons with unilateral lower-limb amputation lead to muscle and joint pains. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of below-knee prosthesis on the muscle force, as well as the knee and hip contact force, in the persons during walking.Instrument & Methods In the quasi-experimental study, eight non-veteran male persons with lower-knee amputation referred to Technical Orthopedic Clinic of Rehabilitation Faculty of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were studied in 2015. The subjects were selected via available sampling method. The Qualysis motion analysis system was used to measure the walking kinematic variables. Kinematic data was recorded by Qualysis Track Manager 2.7 software and was analyzed by Open SIM 3 software. Data was analyzed by SPSS 22 software using independent T test.Findings The healthy stance time percentage and the healthy vibration time percentage were significantly more (p=0.001) and lesser (p=0.04) than the prosthetic side, respectively.The anterior-posterior, vertical, and medial-lateral hip and knee contact forces and the forces of the selected lower limbs, as well as the hip extensor, abductor, and flexor forces and the knee extensor force, at the healthy side were more than the prosthetic side, but insignificantly (p>0.05).Conclusion The unilateral lower-knee prosthesis increases the healthy weight-bearing time percentage during walking. In addition, the healthy lower-limb joints are overloaded to some extent, which is due to more activities of the lower-limb muscles.

Aims Since many veterans are employees of the public organizations, their successful job performance improves the quality of services for the citizens. The aim of the study was to determine the mediating role of burnout and organizational cynicism in a correlation between psychological capital and psychological well-being in the veterans.Instrument & Methods In the descriptive correlational study, 384 veterans, who were employees of the state organizations in Tehran, were studied in 2016. The subjects were selected via available, non-probability sampling method. Data was collected by the psychological capital scale, the psychological well-being scale, the burnout scale, and the organizational cynicism scale. Data was analyzed by LISREL 8.8 software using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and structural equation modeling via path analysis method.Findings Psychological capital positively and significantly correlated with psychological well-being (r=0.928), while it negatively and significantly correlated with burnout (r=-0.932) and organizational cynicism (r=-0.890). In addition, organizational cynicism (r=-0.854) and burnout (r=-0.915) negatively and significantly correlated with psychological well-being (p<0.01).Conclusion Reducing burnout and organizational cynicism, psychological capital increases psychological well-being in the veterans.

Aims High self-esteem positively correlated with high quality of life and narcissism. The aim of the study was to investigate the self-esteem and its correlation with quality of life and narcissism in the veteran and disabled professional cyclists participated in the state championship.Instrument & Methods In the descriptive study, 27 male physically disabled and veteran cyclists, who took part in the state championship in 2016, were studied. The subjects were selected via available sampling method. Data was collected by Rosenberg self-esteem scale, health-related quality of life scale, and Ames narcissistic personality questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS 17 software using Pearson correlation coefficient.Findings The mean score of self-esteem, mean total score of quality of life, and mean score of narcissism were 6.83±3.23, 73.45±5.60, and 5.11±3.63, respectively. Self-esteem did not significantly correlate with total score of quality of life and narcissism (p>0.05). However, selfesteem positively and significantly correlated with the vital energy and freshness subscale of the quality of life (r=0.481; p=0.017).Conclusion The veteran and disabled professional cyclists participated in the state championship are with acceptable self-esteem and quality of life. Nevertheless, their self-esteem does not correlate with quality of life and narcissism.

Aims Noticing the veteran’s old age, and especially veterans with spinal-cord injuries who constitute most of the veterans with physical-motor problems, it is necessary to assess their health. The aim of the study was to investigate comprehensively the health statuses of veterans with spinal-cord injuries in their higher than threescore.Instrument & Methods In the descriptive cross-sectional study, 53 veterans with spinal-cord injuries in their higher than threescore, who participated in a therapeutic recreation camp from all the provinces, were studied in 2011. The subjects were selected via census method.Collected by questionnaires, data of their nutritional status, bedsores risk, cognition status, depression level, and daily functioning with the utilization of instruments, as well as need and dependency in daily activities was analyzed by SPSS 14 software using descriptive statistics and Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests.Findings32, 27, and 47 persons were with depression symptoms, malnutrition risk, and bedsores risk, respectively. 47 persons were with either no or mild cognitive impairment.35 persons were independent in the instrumental activities in daily living (IADL). Only 10 persons were with mild or minimum dependency in daily life. The nutrition status significantly correlated with depression factors (p<0.001), IADL (p=0.04), and dependency level in daily life (p=0.038).Conclusion Most of the elderly veterans with spinal-cord injuries are without any cognitive impairment, with depression symptoms, and with malnutrition risk, as well as bedsores risk. In addition, they are dependent in their daily activities, while independent in their daily life using instrumental aids.

Aims Cognitive abilities and mindfulness are factors hugely improving athletic activities. Blind persons, due to their lack of visual fast and accurate information, have to try to do cognitive executive tasks. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between mindfulness and cognitive abilities in the athlete blind veterans.Instrument & Methods In the correlative descriptive-survey study, 104 female and male athlete blind veterans from West Azarbayjan and Kordestan provinces were studied in 2015. The subjects were selected via available sampling method. Data was collected by the mindfulness scale, attention and consciousness scale, and the cognitive abilities questionnaire.Data was analyzed by SPSS 22 software using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis.Findings Except in two components including inhibiting control and selective attention and planning, mindfulness positively and significantly correlated with cognitive abilities in other components (p<0.05). In addition, 0.438 of cognitive abilities variance in the blind persons were predicted by mindfulness (p=0.001).Conclusion In the athlete blind veterans, mindfulness significantly correlates with some components of cognitive abilities including memory, decision-making, sustainable attention, social cognition, and cognitive flexibility. Therefore, regular mindfulness exercises can strengthen cognitive abilities in the blind veterans.