PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify factors affecting the innovative behavior of military hospital personnel. METHODS: The study involved the analysis of 146 structured questionnaires received from military hospital personnel in D city and S city. Data were collected from January 10 to February 9, 2019. The SPSS/WIN 24.0 program was used for data analysis, which included the t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The multiple regression analysis showed that factors affecting innovative behavior of military hospital staff were the natural reward strategies of self-leadership, behavior-focused strategies of self-leadership, and organization-based psychological ownership (R2=.30). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that to promote innovative behavior in military hospital staff, it is necessary to implement strategies that inspire self-leadership and psychological ownership.
Hospitals, Military ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Ownership ; Reward ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of interventional therapy in structural heart diseases in 38 PLA hospitals.

METHODSData including patient number underwent interventional therapy for structural heart disease, procedure details, immediate procedural complications were retrospectively collected in all the military hospitals between January 2005 and December 2006.

RESULTSSuccessful interventional therapy was achieved in 8692 out of 8862 patients (98.08%) with structural heart disease. Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and percutaneous balloon dilatation of mitral valve stenosis (MS) and pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) were the most performed procedures (97.99%). Up to 91.23% patients underwent transcatheter closure with domestic devices. The incidence of procedure-related complications was 4.33% (n = 384) which were most frequently associated with VSD closure. The commonest procedural complications included conduction blockades (n = 260), residue shunt (n = 42), device detachment (n = 30) and tricuspid incompetence (n = 22). Although the procedures performed in 2005 and 2006 increased 57.32% compared with those in 2003 and 2004, the success rate and the incidence of complications remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous treatment of structural heart disease is a safe and feasible alternative to surgery. Simulate complications arise long after the treatment, which suggests the importance of long-term follow-up for those patients who hare undergone interventional therapy.

Catheterization ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Hospitals, Military ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine physical, psycho-social, and individual factors influencing musculoskeletal symptoms among Korean military trainees. METHODS: Using a correlation study design, military trainees who had completed almost of all the basic combat training (BCT) days were recruited from two military training units selected by convenience sampling. Data from 415 participants were analyzed. RESULTS: Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was 29.6% defined as a participant having pain or discomfort in one or more body parts during training hours for more than seven consecutive days. Back/pelvic (10.8%), knees (10.1%), shoulders (7.7%), feet/toes (5.6%), ankles (4.8%) were prone to musculoskeletal symptoms. Musculoskeletal symptoms appeared to be related to physical exertion during BCT, stress during BCT, social support from fellow trainees, or previous musculoskeletal injuries. In the logistic regression model, physical exertion during BCT (OR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.42~3.65), stress during BCT (OR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.15~2.78), and previous musculoskeletal injuries (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.01~2.47) were the significant factors affecting prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that physical exertion and psycho-social stress should be managed to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms in military trainees with more attention being given to trainees having a history of musculoskeletal injuries.
Ankle ; Human Body ; Humans ; Knee ; Logistic Models ; Military Personnel* ; Musculoskeletal System ; Physical Exertion ; Prevalence ; Shoulder ; Statistics as Topic ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify job experiences of male hospital nurses. METHODS: Data were collected from 20 male nurses working at general hospitals, through semi-structured in-depth interviews. The interviews were recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. Using content analysis, data were coded and categorized. RESULTS: The analyzed domains were motivations for choosing nursing, occupational experiences (3 subdomains), and attitudes toward the future. A total of 85 significant statements were selected from the data and classified into 32 categories. The nurses' motivations for choosing nursing were advantages of employment, their aptitude, scarcity value of men, professionalism and job security, good promotion, stable income, and family influence. In occupational experiences, they were assigned to special fields and dissatisfied with vertical relationship, promotion system, their salary, and gaps in military service time; they had difficulties in adapting to female-dominated groups and encountered gender role stereotype and preconception; they were satisfied with their distinguished performance, but had damaged self-esteem, and were stressed and disappointed in their work. In their attitudes toward the future, they considered their career changes, but tried to make professional and personal advancement. CONCLUSION: These findings have implications for recruiting and retaining male nurses in clinical settings.
Aptitude ; Employment ; Gender Identity ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Motivation ; Nurses, Male ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: The South Korean (SK) government monopolizes the tobacco industry and is accused of pushing smoking on captive military personnel. However, estimating the association between military service and smoking is difficult, since military service is required for all SK men and the few civilian waivers are usually based on smoking determinants, e.g., social status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a quasi-experimental design we validly estimate the association between military service and smoking. Military service was assigned by immigration patterns to the United States, instead of an experimenter, by comparing Korean Americans who happened to immigrate before or after the age(s) of mandated service. Smoking promotion in the military was also described among SK veterans, to identify the probable mechanisms for veterans' smoking tendencies. RESULTS: Veterans were 15% [95% confidence interval (CI), 4 to 27] more likely to ever-puff and 10% (95% CI, 0 to 23) more likely to ever-smoke cigarettes, compared to a similar group of civilians. Among veterans, 92% (95% CI, 89 to 95) recalled cigarettes were free, 30% (95% CI, 25 to 35) recalled smokers were given more work breaks and 38% (95% CI, 32 to 43) felt explicit "social pressure" to smoke. Free cigarettes was the strongest mechanism for veterans' smoking tendencies, e.g., veterans recalling free cigarette distribution were 16% (95% CI, 1 to 37) more likely to ever-smoke than veterans not recalling. CONCLUSION: These patterns suggest military service is strongly associated with smoking, and differences between veterans and civilians smoking may carry over long after military service. Given military service remains entirely in government purview, actively changing military smoking policies may prove most efficacious. This highlights the importance of recent bans on military cigarette distribution, but policies eliminating other smoking encouragements described by veterans are necessary and could effectively reduce the smoking prevalence by as much as 10% in SK.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel/*statistics & numerical data ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Smoking/*epidemiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the incidence, types and risk factors of military training-related injuries in recruits of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces (CPAPF).

METHODSA cohort study was made on the risk factors of injuries in 805 male recruits during the military training from December 25, 1999 to December 25, 2000.

RESULTSA total of 111 recruits (14%) experienced one or more injuries, and the cumulative incidence was 16.1 injuries per 100 soldiers in a year. And 77.7% of the injuries belonged to overuse injuries of the skeletal and muscular systems, the most common type of which was stress fractures. Most injuries occurred in the 3rd month of training. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis of possible risk factors for overuse injuries were carried out, and a number of risk factors were identified: history of agricultural labor, history of lower limb injury, flatfoot and less running exercise before entry into the army. But a suitable body mass index (BMI) was a protective factor. Examination of age, body height, smoking, body flexibility and frequency of 2-mile running revealed no significant association with the injuries.

CONCLUSIONSHistory of agricultural labor, history of lower limb injury, flatfoot, less running exercise before entry into the army and lower BMI were risk factors of the overuse injuries. In order to decrease the incidence of overuse injuries, the young people with good physical ability and shapely body type should be selected during conscription. During the training, nutrition should be improved so as to decrease the incidence of injuries.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Military Personnel ; statistics & numerical data ; Physical Fitness ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology

INTRODUCTIONThere is interest in surveillance systems for outbreak detection at stages where clinical presentation would still be undifferentiated. Such systems focus on detecting clusters of syndromes in excess of baseline levels, which may indicate an outbreak. We model the detection limits of a potential system based on primary care consults for the detection of an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

MATERIALS AND METHODSData from an averaged-sized medical centre were extracted from the Patient Care Enhancement System (PACES) [the electronic medical records system serving the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)]. Thresholds were set to 3 or more cases presenting with particular syndromes and a temperature reading of >or=38oC (T >or=38). Monte Carlo simulation was used to insert simulated SARS outbreaks of various sizes onto the background incidence of febrile cases, accounting for distribution of SARS incubation period, delay from onset to first consult, and likelihood of presenting with T >or=38 to the SAF medical centre.

RESULTSValid temperature data was available for 2,012 out of 2,305 eligible syndromic consults (87.2%). T >or=38 was observed in 166 consults (8.3%). Simulated outbreaks would peak 7 days after exposure, but, on average, signals at their peak would consist of 10.9% of entire outbreak size. Under baseline assumptions, the system has a higher than 90% chance of detecting an outbreak only with 20 or more cases.

CONCLUSIONSSurveillance based on clusters of cases with T >or=38 helps reduce background noise in primary care data, but the major limitation of such systems is that they are still only able to confidently detect large outbreaks.

Adult ; Body Temperature ; Cluster Analysis ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; epidemiology ; Computer Simulation ; Fever ; diagnosis ; Hospitals, Military ; utilization ; Humans ; Medical Records Systems, Computerized ; Middle Aged ; Military Medicine ; Military Personnel ; statistics & numerical data ; Monte Carlo Method ; Personnel, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Primary Health Care ; statistics & numerical data ; Referral and Consultation ; statistics & numerical data ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Singapore ; epidemiology

We conducted an epidemiologic study to understand temporal and spatial patterns of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the Republic of Korea (ROK). We estimated the incidence among civilians in endemic areas through the active surveillance system during the major epidemic periods, from September to December, between 1996 and 1998. We also estimated the prevalence among Korean military personnel from 1995 to 1998. In addition, we assessed seroprevalence, subclinical infection rate, and vaccination rates in both civilians and military personnel. The incidence in civilians ranged from 2.1 to 6.6 per 100, 000 person-months. The annual prevalence in the military personnel was 40-64 per 100, 000 military populations, and remained generally constant throughout the study period with seasonal variation. This is the prospective epidemiologic data set on HFRS in the ROK since the inactivated Hantaan virus vaccine was licensed for use in the late 1990s. These results will be invaluable in establishing a national immunization program against HFRS.
Vaccination/statistics & numerical data ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Seasons ; Population Surveillance ; Military Personnel ; Korea ; Incidence ; Humans ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome/*epidemiology/prevention & control ; Disease Outbreaks/*statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the health status of Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) soldiers changed after one year of military service. METHODS: We selected 483 ROKAF soldiers from the 11 749 recruits who participated in the 2011 physical examination. The selected soldiers underwent another physical examination in 2012 for advancement to senior airman. Data from 2011 and 2012 were merged. To collect data on lifestyle, a questionnaire was sent to all included subjects via the military intranet e-mail service. RESULTS: The percentage of recruits with an abnormal alanine transaminase level (normal range <40 IU/L) decreased from recruitment (13.7%) to the following year (2.7%). Moreover, the percentage of obese soldiers (body mass index > or =25 kg/m2) decreased from recruitment (20.5%) to the following year (10.4%). There was a significant change in mean duration of exercise carried out each day before (0.8+/-1.3 hours) and after (1.0+/-0.7 hours) joining the ROKAF service. CONCLUSIONS: These ROKAF soldiers were generally in good health before and after joining the armed service. After one year of military service, the health status of most soldiers improved, especially with respect to body mass index and alanine transaminase level.
Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Exercise ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Internet ; Life Style ; Military Personnel/*statistics & numerical data ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to describe the trends in body mass index (BMI) during 6 years (2002 - 2008) and to identify associations between these trends and the amount of physical activity of South Korean career soldiers. METHOD: This study targeted the 40 993 (38 857 men and 2136 women) of the 58 657 career soldiers who had undergone four (2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008) biennial medical examinations conducted by the National Health Insurance Corporation; 17 664 soldiers with missing data on height, weight, and physical activity were excluded. A linear mixed-regression model was used to categorize changes in BMI due to age versus those due to amount of physical activity. RESULTS: Career soldiers experienced significant increases in BMI compared with baseline data gathered in 2002. The increases in each age group were as follows: men aged 20- 29: 1.16, men aged 30 - 39: 0.61, men aged 40 - 49: 0.05, women aged 20- 29: 0.35, women aged 30- 39: 0.30, women aged 40-49: 0.26, and women aged 50- 59: 0.21. However, men aged 50 or older showed significant decreases (as high as 0.5) in BMI compared with baseline data obtained in 2002. They also experienced significant decreases in BMI compared with those who reported no physical activity. The differences between baseline and final BMIs were: 0.02 for men exercising 1- 2 times per week, -0.07 for men exercising 3-4 times per week, -0.19 for men exercising 5-6 times per week, -0.21 for men exercising seven times per week, -0.05 for women exercising 1- 2 times per week, -0.19 for women exercising 3- 4 times per week, -0.30 for women exercising 5-6 times per week, and -0.30 for women exercising seven times per week. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity in South Korean career soldiers increased markedly between 2002 and 2008, and our data showed that the amount of physical activity was inversely related to increases in BMI. Policies to prevent obesity are needed to reduce this trend.
Adult ; *Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel/*statistics & numerical data ; *Motor Activity ; Obesity/diagnosis ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea