Revisión sobre el estigma en salud mental en población militar / Review on the stigma associated with mental health problems in the current military context

Objetivo: Realizar una revisión sobre el estigma asociado a los problemas de salud mental en el contexto militar. Método: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura empleando las bases de datos PubMed, Psycinfo y Scielo con las palabras clave mental health, stigma y military personnel desde 2016 hasta 2022. Resultados: Se obtuvieron un total de 84 artículos potencialmente relevantes, y tras la aplicación de los criterios de inclusión, se seleccionaron los 22 artículos sobre los que se analizan los resultados (n=31789) y se extraen las conclusiones. Conclusiones: El estigma asociado a los problemas de salud mental es un fenómeno que dificulta la búsqueda de ayuda psicológica para resolverlos. Se encuentra mayor presencia de este estigma en la población militar que en la civil, y mayor reticencia a buscar tratamiento. Se han identificado variables que actúan facilitando o dificultando la decisión de buscar ayuda profesional en la población militar. Algunos ejércitos están implementando campañas anti-estigma. No se encontraron estudios realizados en las Fuerzas Armadas Españolas. (AU)

Objective: To conduct a review on the stigma associated with mental health problems in the current military context. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out using the databases PubMed, Psycinfo and Scielo with the keywords “mental health”, “stigma” and “military personnel” from 2016 to 2022. Results: A total of 84 potentially relevant articles were obtained, and after applying the inclusion criteria, the 22 articles on which the results are analyzed (n=31789) were selected and conclusions are drawn. Conclusions: The stigma associated with mental health problems is a phenomenon that hinders the search for psychological help to solve them. This stigma is found to be more prevalent in the military population than in the civilian population, and there is greater reluctance to seek treatment. Variables have been identified that facilitate or hinder the decision to seek professional help in the military population. Some armies are implementing anti-stigma campaigns. No studies were found in the Spanish Armed Forces. (AU)

Revisión sobre el estigma en salud mental en población militar / Review on the stigma associated with mental health problems in the current military context

Objetivo: Realizar una revisión sobre el estigma asociado a los problemas de salud mental en el contexto militar. Método: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura empleando las bases de datos PubMed, Psycinfo y Scielo con las palabras clave mental health, stigma y military personnel desde 2016 hasta 2022. Resultados: Se obtuvieron un total de 84 artículos potencialmente relevantes, y tras la aplicación de los criterios de inclusión, se seleccionaron los 22 artículos sobre los que se analizan los resultados (n=31789) y se extraen las conclusiones. Conclusiones: El estigma asociado a los problemas de salud mental es un fenómeno que dificulta la búsqueda de ayuda psicológica para resolverlos. Se encuentra mayor presencia de este estigma en la población militar que en la civil, y mayor reticencia a buscar tratamiento. Se han identificado variables que actúan facilitando o dificultando la decisión de buscar ayuda profesional en la población militar. Algunos ejércitos están implementando campañas anti-estigma. No se encontraron estudios realizados en las Fuerzas Armadas Españolas. (AU)

Objective: To conduct a review on the stigma associated with mental health problems in the current military context. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out using the databases PubMed, Psycinfo and Scielo with the keywords “mental health”, “stigma” and “military personnel” from 2016 to 2022. Results: A total of 84 potentially relevant articles were obtained, and after applying the inclusion criteria, the 22 articles on which the results are analyzed (n=31789) were selected and conclusions are drawn. Conclusions: The stigma associated with mental health problems is a phenomenon that hinders the search for psychological help to solve them. This stigma is found to be more prevalent in the military population than in the civilian population, and there is greater reluctance to seek treatment. Variables have been identified that facilitate or hinder the decision to seek professional help in the military population. Some armies are implementing anti-stigma campaigns. No studies were found in the Spanish Armed Forces. (AU)

Variables psicológicas asociadas al estrés Postraumático en desmovilizados de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC-EP) / Psychological variables associated with post-traumatic stress in demobilized members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP)

Resumen: Objetivo: Evaluar la relación entre el estrés post traumático y variables psicológicas asociadas, en guerrilleros desmovilizados las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC-EP) en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia. Método: Estudio cuantitativo, transversal, de alcance correlacional. Participaron 48 guerrilleros mayores de edad (34 hombres y 14 mujeres) pertenecientes al Frente 58 de esta agrupación, a quienes se les aplicó los cuestionarios Lista de chequeo de estrés post traumático (PCL-5), la escala de distrés psicológica de Kessler, el cuestionario de creencias básicas (CBI), la escala de la esperanza de Herth y la escala de bienestar compuesto (WBC). Resultados: Los participantes no presentaban síntomas de estrés post traumático, tenían bajos niveles de estrés y de cambios en las creencias básicas, igualmente presentaban altos niveles de esperanza y de bienestar físico y psicológico. Para detectar posibles predictores del TEPT se desarrolló un análisis de regresión múltiple en el cual el 48% de la varianza total fue explicado por el distrés psicológico y las creencias básicas. Conclusión: Se evidencia la necesidad de desarrollar estudios que profundicen en las características del estado psicológico de los ex guerrilleros de la FARC-EP, con el fin de aclarar las variables involucradas que favorecen los procesos de reintegración a la vida civil.

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the relationship between post-traumatic stress and associated psychological variables in demobilized guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) in the department of Córdoba, Colombia. Method: We carried out a quantitative, cross-sectional study of correlational scope, in which 48 guerrillas of legal age participated (34 men and 14 women) belonging to the 58th Front of this group. The Post Traumatic Stress Checklist (PCL-5), the Kessler psychological distress scale, the basic beliefs questionnaire (CBI), the Herth hope scale and the composite well-being scale (WBC) were applied. Results: The participants did not present symptoms of post traumatic stress, they had low levels of stress and changes in basic beliefs, they also presented high levels of hope and physical and psychological well-being. To detect possible predictors of PTSD, a multiple regression analysis was developed in which 48% of the total variance was explained by psychological distress and basic beliefs. Conclusion: There is evidence of the need to develop studies that delve into the characteristics of the psychological state of former FARC-EP guerrillas, in order to clarify the variables involved that favor the processes of reintegration into civilian life.

Validação do questionário de saúde e performance para policiais e bombeiros militares (QSPM) / Validation of health and performance questionnaire for military police and firefighter (QSPM) / Validation of health and performance questionnaire for military police and firefighter (QSPM)

O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver e analisar a validade de conteúdo, constructo e a fidedigni-dade de um questionário para avaliar a demanda física e operacional, saúde e condições de trabalho em policiais e bombeiros militares. O Questionário de Saúde e Performance para Militares (QSPM) foi desenvolvido por pesquisadores militares e não militares, a validade foi analisada com o índice de validade de conteúdo (IVC), análise fatorial exploratória e a fidedignidade com o percentual de concordância (%C), coeficiente Kappa e alfa de Cronbach. Nove juízes participaram da validação de conteúdo, 732 militares (15% mulheres) participaram da etapa de validação de constructo e 262 militares (18% mulheres) responderam duas vezes ao QSPM para a verificação da fidedignidade. As análises foram realizadas no software SPSS 26 e o nível de significância mantido em 5%. O QSPM apresentou o IVC de 0,98 e variância total explicada em 54,7%. A reprodutibilidade apresentou valores de %C entre 97,2 - 100,0%, Kappa entre 0,94 - 1,00 (p < 0,05) e alpha de Cronbach entre 0,80 - 1,00 (p < 0,05). Conclui-se que o QSPM apresentou validade de conteúdo, constructo e fidedignidade para avaliar a frequência da demanda física e operacional, as condições de saúde e de trabalho de policiais e bombeiros militares

The aim of this study was to develop and analyze the content and construct validity and reliability of a questionnaire to assess the performance, health and working conditions of police officers and military fire-fighters (QSPM). Civilian and military personnel carried out the development of the QSPM. The validity was analyzed by the content validity index (CVI), factor analysis, and the reproducibility by the simple agreement (%SA), the Kappa coefficient, and Cronbach's alpha. Nine experts participated in the content validation, 732 military personnel (15 women) participated in the construct validation, and 262 military (18% women) answered the QSPM twice to measure reproducibility. The QSPM had a CVI of 0.98. In the exploratory factorial analysis, when considering four factors, and the total explained variance was 54.7%. The reproducibility showed %SA values varying between 97.2 to 100.0%, Kappa values varying between 0.94 to 1.00 (p < 0.05 for all questions) and, Cronbach's α values varying between 0.80 to 1.00 (p < 0.05 for all questions). In conclusion, the QSPM showed content validity, construct validity and reliability to measure the frequency of physical-operational demand, the presence of morbidities, and the working condi-tions of police officers and firefighters

Physical, psychological and demographic factors associated with military discharge: a systematic review

Abstract Aims: The present study is a review focused on analyzing the physical, psychological, and demographic factors that lead recruits to be dismissed or to request their dismissal during basic military training periods. Methods: This study is a systematic review of cohort studies. The following databases were searched in June 2019 and updated in July 2020: Embase, LILACS, CINAHL, Cochrane, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases. The MeSH descriptors military personnel, risk factors, and discharge were used to elaborate the search equations. Reference lists were explored to find studies that examined the association between physical, psychological, and demographic factors that lead recruits to be discharged. The following data were extracted from the studies: profile of the participants, sample size, type of risk factors, the duration of follow-up, and the results of the statistical analysis carried out in the studies included. The risk of bias was analyzed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Results: A total of 531 titles were retrieved from the databases, and eight articles met the eligibility criteria. The results showed the factors associated with discharge, in descending order: musculoskeletal injuries and other medical questions, depressive and behavioural disorders, performance in physical fitness tests, and others. Factors such as educational level, alcohol use, history of suicide attempt, and imprisonments were not associated with an increased risk of being discharged. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal injuries, depression, running performance, previous physical exercise practice, and demographic factors were associated with an increased risk of being discharged.

Pandemic planning: plotting a course through the coronawars.

The biological motor behind the current coronavirus pandemic has placed microbiology on a global stage, and given its practitioners a role among the architects of recovery. Planning for a return to normality or the new normal is a complex, multi-agency task for which healthcare scientists may not be prepared. This paper introduces a widely used military planning framework known as the Joint Military Appreciation Process, and outlines how it can be applied to deal with the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognition of SARS-CoV-2's critical attributes, targetable vulnerabilities, and its most likely and most dangerous effects is a necessary precursor to scoping, framing and mission analysis. From this flows course of action development, analysis, concept of operations development, and an eventual decision to act on the plan. The same planning technique is applicable to the larger scale task of setting a microbiology-centric plan in the broader context of social and economic recovery.

Pandemias, milicia e historia de la Ciencia / Pandemics, the military and the history of Science

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Army ROTC and Military Science: Developing Trusted Army Professionals.

This chapter focuses on the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and how military science programs develop leaders for service in the military profession.

The destiny of Italian prisoners in Austro-Hungarian POW camps during the First World War: remembering the defeat of Caporetto 100 years on.

The living conditions of Italian prisoners during the First World War were extremely difficult. At the end of the conflict, the treatment of Italian soldiers in Austro-Hungarian POW camps and in those of the German territories was recognized as particularly harsh in comparison with that of other prisoners. The reasons may be ascribed to three main factors. The Italian prisoners paid the price of being considered traitors, since Italy was allied with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and with Germany until 1914, subsequently switching to the side of France, the United Kingdom and Russia. The Italian government and the Italian High Command considered their soldiers poorly inclined to engage in a war which became over time increasingly costly in terms of human sacrifice. The strategy pursued by the General-in-Chief Luigi Cadorna was very aggressive and showed little care for the life conditions of his troops, who were frequently thrown into the fray and exposed to potential slaughter. Due to this negative judgement on their troops' willingness to fight, the government did not help, and even hindered, the despatch of packages of food and clothes to prisoners in the Austro-Hungarian and German camps via the Red Cross. The idea of a better life in the trenches compared with that expected in the camps as prisoners was widespread. Thirdly, the maritime blockade of the Adriatic Sea over time reduced to starvation the populations of Austria, Hungary and Germany, which obviously had grave repercussions on prisoners. It was estimated that around 100,000 Italians lost their lives in POW camps; after the defeat at Caporetto, when over 250,000 prisoners were captured, the number of deaths rose. The main causes of death were: tuberculosis, pneumonia, malnutrition and typhoid fever. At the end of the war, when coming back to Italy, former POWs were interned for months in camps (located predominantly in the Emilia region) and had to face interrogation and trials to demonstrate they were not deserters and were free to go back home. In the meantime, many lost their lives due to "Spanish" flu, pneumonia and other infectious diseases. Only the mobilization both of families and public opinion forced the Italian government to close the camps at the end of the year 1919.