Journal of Military Medicine
Year:2021 | Volume:23 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Background and Aim: Cardiovascular fitness is considered as an important indicator of health so that there is a clear relationship between the level of cardiovascular fitness and risk factors for heart disease. This indicator can be measured objectively and accurately by running. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric indices and cardiovascular fitness in army cadets. Methods: The subjects of the study were 580 students from Imam Ali Military University of Iran (mean age 21. 3± 1. 03, BMI 22. 5± 2. 38), which are selected by random sampling. The anthropometric characteristics of the subjects include (Body fat mass (BFM), fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (PBF), total body water (TBW), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and metabolic rate (BMR) were measured by (in body 220) and 3200-meters running test standard in a 400 meters’ track as indicator of cardiovascular fitness. Testing performed each day during specified hours, every day at 4 to 6 pm. In order to analyze the results of multivariate regression analysis and Pearson correlation test was used. Results: The results showed that there was no relationship between running with age, WHtR and Chest variables (P <0. 05), but there was a significant positive relationship between running with height, BFM, FMM, weight, SMM, BMI, PBF, WHR, BMR and Wast variables (P = 0. 001). Conclusion: According to the results, monitoring of anthropometric indices may be a suitable criterion for estimating cardiovascular fitness in army cadets.

Background and Aim: Increase the health of expert human resources, especially in the field of education and research at university level are components of sustainable development in each country. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determination of the status of aerobic fitness and obesity components in the faculty of a military medical university. Methods: Seventy-eight faculty members of a military medical university (Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences age range 34-68 years old, summer 2018) were randomly selected using Georgian and Morgan sampling method and enroll in the required tests. From body composition analyzer (BCA Model BOCAX1) to evaluate body composition and also stairs test with the McArdle method to measuring aerobic power was used. Results: The results of this study showed that the mean BMI of the subjects was significantly higher than 25. Mean waist to hip ratio (WHR) of subjects was significantly lower than the number of criteria 1 (That men with WHR higher than 1 and women with WHR higher than 0. 8). The mean of body fat percentage (PBF) was significantly higher than the 20 criterion. The maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) of the subjects was significantly lower than the 45 (P = 0. 001). Pearson correlation also showed that between VO2max with BMI (r =-0. 338, P = 0. 003), WHR (r =-0. 513, P = 0. 001) and PBF (r =-0. 709, P = 0. 001). There was a significant and inverse relationship between the faculty staff of faculty of a military medical university. Conclusion: Considering the significant correlation between the results of this study, it seems that BMI, WHR and PBF can be used to estimate VO2max and to determine the aerobic fitness of the subjects. Therefore, high body composition factors (weight, BFM and FFM) in the present study may indicate a low level of aerobic fitness and VO2max of subjects, which predicts a high risk of various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The reason for this is probably the lack of regular physical activity in the daily schedule of the faculty of a military medical university due to the high occupational problem and inappropriate food composition. Therefore, the use of aerobic and resistance training with a low-calorie and high-quality diet is recommended.

Background and Aim: The specific characteristics of people's work in the military force can affect the general health and quality of life of these people. The aim of this study was carried out to assess the quality of life and general health of the personnel of a military force and effective factors. Methods: The present research is a descriptive cross-sectional study in 2017. Four hundred members of a military force were selected by simple random sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria from Bandar Abbas, Bushehr and Mahshahr cities. The data collection tools included a self-report questionnaire consisting of three as demographic characteristics, a 36-item (SF-36) and a GHQ-28 general health questionnaire. Finally, the data were entered into SPSS software version 16 and it examined with descriptive statistics (frequency, mean and standard deviation) and also analytical statistics such as independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and Tukey test for multiple comparisons. Results: The results showed that Staffs quality of life scores were moderate. Also, the average of general health score had a normal condition without symptoms. On the quality of life subscales, pain and physical function had the highest and lowest mean, respectively. The lowest average score in subscale’ s depression in general health. There was a statistically significant relation between the quality of life score and all demographic variables except military-grade (P<0. 05). General health score had a significant relation with the majority of demographic variables, especially the Participant’ s income level (P <0. 05). Conclusion: It seems that training and supportive measures are needed to maintain and improve the existing conditions. The military environment, due to its special circumstances, requires wise and more precise management to maintain the core assets, which are its manpower. Therefore, according to the demographic and social factors affecting the dependent variables of quality of life and general health of staffs should be supported by programs.

Background and Aim: The tendency to understand the factors and consequences of work fatigue has increased in recent decades because work fatigue can affect health, safety attitudes, and personal and work performance. The effects of work fatigue subsequently affect a number of individual (physical, psychological, behavioral, and inability to protest) and organizational elements (job attitudes, job attendance, poor performance, and work trauma). Therefore, the present study aimed to investigating the psychometric properties persian version of the work fatigue inventory. Methods: In this study, 360 employees of Ahvaz Fire Department were selected by random staging. The research method was descriptive tool validation. Participants completed questionnaires on job fatigue, role ambiguity, role conflict, job satisfaction, mental health and turnover. The internal consistency of the questionnaires was assessed by Cronbach's alpha method and correlation coefficient of the whole test. Convergent validity, empirical validity, and incremental validity were used to assess the validity of the Fatigue Scale. Results: Exploratory factor analysis using the principal components method and the varimax cycle, showed that physical, psychological, and emotional exhaustion consisted of a factor called work exhaustion. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that, except for one material, the scale significantly loaded on one factor. The results of convergent validity showed that the scale of work fatigue was positively correlated with the ambiguity and role conflict and intention to leave jobs and was related to job satisfaction scales. The results of empirical validity showed that work fatigue scale is related to job satisfaction. The results of incremental validity using hierarchical regression analysis showed that work fatigue scale predicted more than the effect of work fatigue factor and the other four measures of job satisfaction. Conclusion: Overall, the findings of the study showed that the scale of work fatigue is acceptable and consistent with Western research. As a result, it can be used to measure this structure in Iranian staff.

Background and Aim: Factors such as the uncontrolled spread of the Covid-19 in the world, social constraints, ambiguity in the educational and professional future, the lack of effective treatment and high mortality rate of Covid-19, have important role in the mental health of communities. Due to the importance of public mental health, this study aimed to assessment of physical and psychological symptoms of Covid-19-related anxiety in the Iranian adult. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 3029 Iranian adult were selected by the convenience sampling method included to the study from 9 May 2020 to 3 June 2020. Data analyzed by SPSS version 24. Results: Data of this study showed that 93. 1% of the participants in psychological anxiety dimension and 85. 5% of the participants in physical anxiety dimension experienced moderate. In the whole dimension of anxiety, 18. 7% of the subjects experienced mild symptoms, 75. 5% of the subjects experienced moderate symptoms and 5. 8% of the subjects experienced severe symptoms. Date showed that the severity of anxiety in the women, adults in the age group of 30 to 49 years, people working in the medical sciences subgroup and people with undergraduate literacy was higher than other participants. Conclusion: The present study showed that Iranian adults experienced widespread Covid-19-related anxiety. The military service, as a trusted group of the general population, has been involved in the emergency situations to deal with biological crises such as Covid-19 in Iran. The data from this study can provide a clear view of the psychological state of population for military service and help them to prepare operational prevention protocols, specialized for high risk group of anxiety disorder.

Background and Aim: Many organizational factors can be used as determinants of unsafe behaviors; one of the most prominent is the safety climate. The chemical industry has a great potential for catastrophic accidents due to the critical process parameters and the significant volume of hydrocarbon materials. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the components of occupational safety climate and the occurrence of unsafe behaviors in the chemical industry. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 in the petrochemical industry in the south of Iran. In this study, 269 operational personnel were surveyed. To analyze the safety climate, the standard occupational safety climate questionnaire was used. To study the occurrence of unsafe behaviors, a checklist of unsafe behaviors was used according to the causes of accidents that have occurred in the studied industry during the last 15 years. Data analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression in SPSS software version 25. Results: Significant inverse relationship was observed between the workplace safety dimension and unsafe behavior. There was also a significant relationship between the dimension of management commitment and the experience of accident and near-miss and unsafe behavior (P-Value <0. 05). The regression model results showed that the most critical factors affecting the occurrence of unsafe behaviors included the components of management commitment, workplace safety, probability of ignoring the error, education level, and work experience (R2 = 0. 559, P-Value <0. 05). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the dimension of management commitment, level of workplace safety, level of education, and work experience in chemical industries are among important and influential factors in the occurrence of unsafe behaviors. Therefore, paying attention to these issues can be a practical step towards reducing unsafe behaviors and consequently reducing the accidents in mentioned industries.

Background and Aim: Fatigue and abnormalities in the lower extremities, such as the pronated foot, can adversely affect the biomechanics of human movements such as running, leading to a lack of muscle contraction and unstable symptoms in the joints of the lower extremities (knees). Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exhaustive protocol on knee muscle co-contraction in pronated and healthy individuals while running. Methods: Fourteen young men with pronated feet and 14 healthy feet participated in the study. Electromyography activities of the selected muscles before and after fatigue protocol were recorded. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (P ≤ 0. 05). Results: Findings in the pronated foot compared with the healthy foot group showed that the knee general cocontraction during the mid-stance phase (P = 0. 026, d = 0. 81) and swing (P = 0. 046, d = 0. 81) and Vastuslateralis/vastusmedialis directed co-contraction of the knee was significantly lower during the heel contact phase (P = 0. 049, d = 0. 81). Flexural/extensor directed co-contraction in comparison of pretest to posttest during heel propulsion phase in both groups of pronated foot (P = 0. 037, d = 0. 81) and healthy foot (P = 0. 037, 0. 81 = d) decreased significantly. The other components did not show any significant differences. Conclusion: The co-contraction of the examined muscles in the knee joint has decreased in pronated foot in different stages of stance compared to the healthy foot group. This may be due to the over-activity of a group of muscles to overcome the instability of the knee and to prevent the extra movements of this joint when fatigue occurs, and it is also possible that this over-activity of a group of muscles has affected the running mechanics of individual with pronated foot and at different stages of the running cycle caused additional pressure on the knee joint and the musculoskeletal system in the knee joint loses its ability to properly absorb shock when running, increasing joint looseness and the risk of joint damage due to fatigue Increase.

Background and Aim: The medical universities face more serious challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine the level of satisfaction on the quality of education and virtual education during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis in nursing students of Aja University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Methods: This cross-sectional study (descriptive-correlation) was conducted at the end of the second semester of 2019-2020. All Aja nursing students were selected by the census method and recruited in the study. Individual characteristics questionnaire, course experience questionnaire (CEQ), and e-learning satisfaction questionnaire were used to collect data. Results: More than 66% of students were satisfied with the quality of the training course. More than half of the students (56. 3%) were relatively satisfied with virtual education. Among individual variables, only students' semester was considered as a predictor of satisfaction with the course (P <0001). There was no significant relationship between the dimensions and the CEQ score with students' academic achievement (P <0. 05). All dimensions of the CEQ were significant predictors of students' satisfaction with the course (P <0. 0001). Conclusion: Continuation of education in medical universities in the Covid-19 pandemic to train professional and empowered graduates to reduce the workload of hospitals is one of the main concerns of educational administrators. It is recommended to pay special attention to the quality of these training to introduce, identify and evaluate the experience of successful teaching-learning styles and start the cycle of modification and improvement of the training process even in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background and Aim: Improper body posture and differences in spinal angles can lead to orthopedic injuries. Forward head and kyphosis are some of the complications of improper posture that can lead to back pain. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between forward head position and dorsal kyphosis with non-specific chronic low back pain in military mans. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 middle-aged military men aged were purposefully divided into two groups of 30 people with non-specific chronic low back pain and healthy (Age range: healthy 43. 4 ± 10/10 years and low back pain 45. 1 ± 6. 6 years). Then, information related to dorsal kyphosis was collected with a kyphometer, range of motion of the back by goniometer, and forward head position using a body-vision device. Kolmogorov – Smirnov test was used for data normality and Independent t and chi-square tests were used for data analysis in Spss19 software with significant level (P <0. 05). Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between forward head position in patients with chronic low back pain and without low back pain (P = 0. 036). While there was no significant difference between kyphosis in people with chronic low back pain and without low back pain (P = 0. 73). In the correlation study, it was found that there was no significant relationship between kyphosis and forward head in people with chronic back pain (P = 0. 924) and healthy people (P = 0. 062). The angle of range of motion of the lumbar spine was not significantly related to the angle of the thoracic kyphosis angle in patients with chronic low back pain (P = 0. 088) and healthy individuals (P = 0. 544). In addition, forward head position was not significantly associated with VAS in patients with chronic low back pain (P = 0. 330), but a significant association between forward head position and VAS was confirmed in healthy subjects (P = 0. 006). Conclusion: By examining the spine and examining neck pain in healthy military men, it is possible to detect postural changes and prevent chronic back pain. Postural evaluation also helps to correct any pain and abnormal condition of weak muscles by prescribing corrective exercises.