JOURNAL OF MILITARY MEDICINE
Year:2011 | Volume:13 | Issue:1 (47)|Papers Count:14

Aims: Occupational stress is a common problem in modern societies. Military related jobs are among high stress occupations. This study was performed to identify factors influencing occupational stress in military personnel in Iran.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 749 official military personnel from different provinces of Iran, who were selected using two-stage cluster sampling, in year 2010. Occupational Descriptive Index (containing 35 questions) was used in order to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation, and inferential statistical methods including variance analysis and independent t-test by SPSS 16 software.Results: The relationship between age and occupational stress shown to be as a broken curve in which the greatest amount of stress was observed in range of 26 to 40 years and after that the stress decreased as the age increased. Based on results, age had effect on all areas of occupational stress, except for Demand and Relationship. Results showed a reverse relationship between occupational satisfaction and occupational stress. Occupational satisfaction affected all areas of occupational stress.Conclusion: Occupational stress decreases with age increase and age has impact on all areas of occupational stress. Work experience has a significant relationship with occupational stress.

Aims: Regarding to the necessity of self-aid and buddy-aid training, passing this training course has been obligatory for the whole army personnel for about 10 years. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of self-aid and buddy-aid training by two methods of lecture and multimedia software packages on the knowledge level of selected combat battalion officers of Tehran.Methods: In a semi-experimental study conducted in year 2010, 60 eligible officers of two selected combat battalions of Tehran were selected from the total number of 300 and were divided into two 30-person groups and they were thought by two methods of lecture and multimedia software packages. They were tested by a written test with standard questions for determining the amount of knowledge. Results were collected and analyzed and compared by descriptive and analytic statistical methods including paired t-test, independent t-test and exact Fisher test using SPSS 15 software.Results: The mean knowledge level score was not statistically different between the two groups before intervention. The mean score showed more increase in multimedia software group after intervention. The mean knowledge level score increased in both groups after intervention, which was statistically different (p<0.001).Conclusion: Teaching with multimedia software packages is more effective than lecture method in increasing military officers’ knowledge level in proper time and place with presence of educational assistance tools.

Aims: Personality of managers affects their managerial style and their conflict management method. This study was performed with the aim of investigating the relation between personality traits, leadership styles and conflict management methods in a military unit.Methods: This cross-sectional correlation study was performed on 200 senior managers of a military unit in Ghom who were selected by available sampling method. The leadership style was investigated by leadership styles questionnaire and managers’ personality traits were investigated by NEO questionnaire and their conflict management method was studied by Robbins questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS 16 using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.Results: The advisory-benevolent imperative leadership style was the most frequent style (65.5%) and compatible personality was the most observed characteristic (19.5%). The extrovert personality had positive relation with participatory management style. There was a significant positive relationship between the extrovert personality and management style score. In addition, there was a significant positive relationship between neuroticism and incompatible style.Conclusion: The advisory-benevolent imperative leadership style is the most frequent style and compatible personality is the most observed characteristic among the studied unit’s senior managers. There is a significant positive relationship between solution-seeking and controlling methods of managing conflict and management style score and there is a significant negative relationship between neuroticism and management style score.

Aims: Studies performed on military structure indicate psychological issues which may occur considering the nature of military jobs. The present study was performed with the aim of comparing the lifestyle, quality of life and mental health of two military and non-military universities’ personnel.Methods: This descriptive comparative study was performed in year 2008.344 (131 men, 213 women) personnel of two universities of Tahran were selected by available sampling method and completed Millon Clinical Multi-axial Inventory III (MCMI III), Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) and WHO Quality of Life–Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software, using descriptive statistical methods and independent t-test.Results: Comparing mental health variables, there was significant difference between two groups in majority of mental health subscales and the military university personnel had higher mental health. No significant difference was found in terms of lifestyle and quality of life between the two groups.Conclusion: Military university personnel have higher mental health compared to non-military university personnel, but there is no significant difference in lifestyle and quality of life between the two groups. Higher levels of mental health in personnel of the military university can be related to performing preventive procedures for mental health improvement as well as job security and clear promotion processes.

Aims: Occupational stress is a common and money consuming problem in the workplace nowadays. Stress is highly experienced among drivers due to the nature of the job and environmental factors. This study was performed with the aim of comparing the occupational stress in military and non-military drivers in Tehran.Methods: This descriptive analytical study was performed on 202 drivers of selected municipal areas and military centers of Tehran who were selected by proportional sampling method in February 2009. Osipow job stress questionnaire was used for collecting data. Data was analyzed by SPSS15 software using descriptive and analytical statistical methods including Chi square test.Results: The mean age of drivers of military and non-military drivers were 43.28±8.63 and 40.49±8.78, respectively. The rate of occupational stress showed a significant difference in two groups in two domains of inefficiency and role range (p<0.05), but the total job stress score didn’t show a statistically significant difference.Conclusion: Occupational stress is moderate or even severe among both military and non-military drivers in some domains, but the total stress score doesn’t have a significant difference in two groups. More comprehensive studies are needed in this field in order to reduce the amount of stress and its consequences.

Aims: Pattern of cutaneous diseases in military centers is different from the society due to presence of predisposing factors in these centers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate and related factors of common cutaneous diseases in a non-educational military center.Methods: In this cross-sectional study a sample of 809 persons were selected by census sampling method and examined in year 2008. Subjects with suspicious lesions were referred to laboratory. Data was analyzed using SPSS 15 by descriptive and analytical statistical methods including Chi square and logistic regression.Results: 26.2% of the study subjects suffered from skin diseases. The disease distribution pattern was as follows: acne (8.9%), dermatitis (8.8%), pityriasis (3.1%), warts (1.9%), psoriasis (0.7%) tinea versicolor (0.7%), hair loss (0.5%), urticaria (0.4%) leishmaniosis (0.4%) burning scar (0.4%) and cutaneous tuberculosis (0.1%). The prevalence rate of cutaneous diseases was significantly different regarding the bathing frequency and residence place (p<0.05).Conclusion: According to the high proportion of contagious cutaneous diseases among the observed diseases, it is strongly recommended to examine soldiers at their first entry to military centers. Periodic physical examinations in order to control the contagious cutaneous diseases are also necessary.

Aims: The Iraqi government performed numerous chemical attacks against north-west of Iran and Iraq nonmilitary civilians during 1980-88. The aim of this survey was to investigate the long term respiratory complications among chemical injury victims of Iraqi Kurdistan region.Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in year 2008 on Iraqi Kurdish chemical injury victims who were invited by public invitation and 479 eligible patients entered the study by census sampling method. Then, physical examination, spirometry and thoracic high-resolution computed tomography were carried out on patients. Blistering after chemical weapon exposure was used to identify the significant exposure to sulfur mustard and patients were divided into two groups of having blisters and without blisters. Results of the two groups were compared by SPSS 16 software using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, independent t-test, exact Fissure test, Chi square test and multivariate regression.Results: Among 479 participants, 45.7% were male and 54.3% were female. The mean age was 43.1±13.7. Spirometry was abnormal in 15.2% of patients and air trapping was present on CT scan in 46.6% cases and there was no significant difference between patients with blisters (n=278) and without a history of blistering. However, Blistering after chemical weapon exposure associated with more respiratory symptoms and worse lung function especially among Halabja inhabitants.Conclusion: Iraqi Kurdish chemical injury victims suffer from severe respiratory complications which may reflect the absence of essential preventive training for reduction of contact with chemicals and early treatment after incidents.

Aims: Hormones' response to competition and their relation to sport matches have been extensively investigated in male and less widely in female athletes. Stress is an irresistible part of every sport match which is mostly caused by competition. In the present study, female volleyball players were examined for changes in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and salivary cortisol in response to competition.Methods: This cohort study was performed on 10 members of a female volleyball team attending a regional tournament held in 3rd region of Islamic Azad University in year 2010, who were selected by purposive available sampling method. Saliva samples were collected 5 and 30 minutes before the match, between the second and third set, and immediately and 30 minutes after two different volleyball matches. Using ELISA method, the concentrations of DHEA and cortisol were measured in a duplicate manner. Data was analyzed by one-way variance analysis for repeated measurements using SPSS 16 software.Results: No significant difference was detected in concentrations of DHEA and salivary cortisol (p>0.05). Salivary cortisol concentration showed a slight raise in players only in the middle of the volleyball match (p=0.04), but the increase was not statistically significant on the whole (p>0.05).Conclusion: Participating in amateur volleyball matches has no influence on salivary DHEA level. Amateur volleyball players experience the highest cortisol changes, during a volleyball match which leads to a loss. It can probably be concluded that salivary cortisol concentration will increase more drastically in losers compared to winners in amateur players during a volleyball match.

Aims: The mental health of family members is influenced by the function of the family system and presence of a disabled child often leads to irretrievable damages to the family. Based in this issue, the aim of this study was to investigate the problems of families with disabled children and its indirect impact on their occupational function.Methods: This descriptive analytical study was performed in year 2009. Study units were the families of Sepah personnel who had disabled children and lived in Tehran.200 subjects were studied in two groups of families having disabled children and families without disabled children as the control group. Data was collected by family function questionnaire, Bell adaptation scale and researcher-made questionnaire. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistical methods and independent t-test using SPSS 15 software.Results: Families with disabled children had statistically significant difference in family function (p<0.01); in other words the control group families had better family function than those with disabled children. Considering adaptability, there was a significant difference between the two groups in total score and minor scales.Conclusion Families with disabled children have weakness and trouble in terms of function and adaptability, therefore they need educational and consultation services and psychological supports.

Aims: Awareness of hospital incidents and their causes can affect the managerial planning of hospitals and finding preventive measures in order to reduce occupational incidents and ultimately reduce in hospital expenses. This study was performed with the aim of investigating the prevalence rate of hospital accidents and their associating factors among the staff of one of Tehran hospitals.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 190 staffs of one of Tehran hospitals during 2008-2009. All incidents were considered and subjects were selected by systematic random sampling method. Data was collected by a questionnaire and a checklist. Data was analyzed by SPSS 17 software using Chi square test and paired proportion test.Results: 62.6% of cases had been injured only once and 34.7% had been injured more than once. Cuts, perforations and ulcerations (92 cases) had the highest prevalence rate. Inobservance and imprudence was the cause of most cases of incidents and unsafe working conditions and lack of individual protective equipments were in the next order respectively. The effect of subjects’ education level (p<0.001) and work experience (p<0.05) on incident rate was significant.Conclusion: Cuts, perforations and ulcerations have the highest prevalence rate among hospital accidents. Inobservance and imprudence is responsible for most cases of incidents. The education level and work experience have significant effect on the rate of hospital incidents.