Influencia da Qualidade do Sono na Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho de Policais Militares / Influencia de la Calidad del Sueño en la Calidad de Vida en el Trabajo de la Policía Militar / Influence of Sleep Quality on the Quality of Life and Work of Military Police Officers

Resumo Introdução: A profissão policial é considerada de alto risco e exige um vigor físico e mental do trabalhador diante do serviço realizado. De tal modo que uma boa qualidade do sono é importante, pois impacta diretamente em diversos aspectos na saúde desses trabalhadores. Ademais, a falta de uma boa qualidade do sono devido ao trabalho pode influenciar negativamente a qualidade de vida no trabalho. Objetivo: Analisar a influência da qualidade do sono na qualidade de vida no trabalho de policiais militares. Metodologia: Estudo quantitativo, correlacionalde corte transversal, realizado no primeiro semestre de 2019, com policiais de três municípios da Bahia, Brasil. Foram utilizados três instrumentos: sociodemográfico e características laborais; qualidade de vida de vida no trabalho; e qualidade do sono. Foi aplicado o teste do qui quadrado para as variáveis sociodemograficas e ocupacionais. Posteriormente, foi aplicado o teste de correlação de Spearman entre a qualidade do sono com as dimensões da qualidade de vida no trabalho. Resultados: Evidenciou-se entre os 298 policiais que a mediana da idade foi de 40 anos e tempo de serviço ≤ 7 anos, observou-se também que os policiais com pior qualidade do sono apresentaram qualidade de vida no trabalho insatisfatória em todas as dimensões (biológica/fisiológica; psicológica/comportamental; sociológica/relacional; econômica/política, ambiental/organizacional). Conclusão: Os policiais sofrem com a qualidade do sono e consequentemente influencia negativamente a qualidade de vida no trabalho. Assim, há uma necessidade de desenvolver ações no ambiente de trabalho que possam diminuir os afastamentos decorrentes dos problemas de saúde ocasionados pela qualidade do sono.

Resumen Introdución: La formación policial se considera de alto riesgo y requiere vigor físico y mental por parte de la persona trabajadora antes de realizar el servicio. Para esto, la buena calidad de sueño es importante, ya que impacta directamente en la salud de la población trabajadora en varios aspectos. Además, la falta de una buena calidad de sueño debido al trabajo puede influir negativamente en la calidad de vida fuera del trabajo. Objetivo: Analizar la influencia de la calidad del sueño en la calidad de vida en el trabajo de policías militares. Metodología: Estudio cuantitativo, correlacional transversal, realizado en el primer semestre de 2019, con policías de tres municipios de Bahía, Brasil. Se utilizaron tres instrumentos: características sociodemográficas y laborales, calidad de vida en el trabajo y calidad de sueño. Se aplicó la prueba chi cuadrado para las variables sociodemográficas y ocupacionales. Posteriormente, se aplicó la prueba de correlación de Spearman entre la calidad del sueño y las dimensiones de calidad de vida en el trabajo. Resultados: La muestra fue de 298 policías, la mediana de edad fue de 40 años y la antigüedad en el servicio fue ≤ 7 años. También, se observó quienes tuvieron peor calidad de sueño, también tuvieron una calidad de vida en el trabajo insatisfactoria en todos sus dimensiones (biológica/fisiológica; psicológica/conductual; sociológica/relacional; económica/política, ambiental/organizacional). Conclusión: Quienes son agentes de policía sufren de mala calidad de sueño y, en consecuencia, se influye negativamente su calidad de vida en el trabajo. Por lo tanto, existe la necesidad de desarrollar acciones en el lugar de trabajo que pueda reducir los riesgos de problemas de salud causados por la calidad del sueño.

Abstract Background: Police training is considered high risk and demands physical and mental vigor from the worker before preforming the service. Therefore, sleep quality is important as it directly impacts the health of these workers in several aspects. Furthermore, the lack of sleep quality due to work can negatively influence the quality of life outside of work. Aim: To analyze the influence of sleep quality on the quality of life and work of military police officers. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational study, conducted in the first half of 2019 with police officers from three municipalities in Bahia, Brazil. Three instruments were used: sociodemographic and work characteristics; quality of life at work; and sleep quality. The chi-square test was applied for sociodemographic and occupational variations. Subsequently, the Spearman correlation test was applied between sleep quality and the quality of life and work dimensions. Results: Among the 298 police officers the median age was 40 years and the length of service was ≤ 7 years. It was also observed that police officers with poorer sleep quality had an unsatisfactory quality of life at work in all its dimensions (biological/physiological; psychological/behavioral; sociological/relational; economic/political, environmental/organizational). Conclusion: Police officers suffer from poor sleep quality and this negatively influence their quality of life and work. Therefore, there is a need to develop actions in the workplace that may reduce the risks of health problems caused by poor sleep quality.

Outcomes for Arthroplasties in Military Health: A Retrospective Analysis of Direct Versus Purchased Care.

INTRODUCTION: The Department of Defense is reforming the military health system where surgeries are increasingly referred from military treatment facilities (MTFs) with direct care to higher-volume civilian hospitals under purchased care. This shift may have implications on the quality and cost of care for TRICARE beneficiaries. This study examined the impact of care source and surgical volume on perioperative outcomes and cost of total hip arthroplasties (THAs) and total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined TRICARE claims for patients who underwent THA or TKA between 2006 and 2019. The 30-day readmissions, complications, and costs between direct and purchased care were evaluated using the logistic regression model for surgical outcomes and generalized linear models for cost. RESULTS: We included 71,785 TKA and THA procedures. 11,013 (15.3%) were performed in direct care. They had higher odds of readmissions (odds ratio, OR 1.29 [95% CI, 1.12-1.50]; P < 0.001) but fewer complications (OR 0.83 [95% CI, 0.75-0.93]; P = 0.002). Within direct care, lower-volume facilities had more complications (OR 1.27 [95% CI, 1.01-1.61]; P = 0.05). Costs for index surgeries were significantly higher at MTFs $26,022 (95% CI, $23,393-$28,948) vs. $20,207 ($19,339-$21,113). Simulating transfer of care to very high-volume MTFs, estimated cost savings were $4,370/patient and $20,229,819 (95% CI, $17,406,971-$25,713,571) in total. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that MTFs are associated with lower odds of complications, higher odds of readmission, and higher costs for THA and TKA compared to purchased care facilities. These findings mean that care in the direct setting is adequate and consolidating care at higher-volume MTFs may reduce health care costs.

Total Force Fitness Education: A Critical Enabler of Human Performance Optimization.

INTRODUCTION: Military health education has historically been focused on conveying the consequences of risky behaviors, informing about external resources, and addressing disease through mitigation and prevention. Total Force Fitness (TFF) and Human Performance Optimization (HPO) provide a broad and holistic framework for preventing health issues and bolstering performance. The Consortium for Health and Military Performance convened a workgroup at the TFF Summit in 2021 to discuss the current state of TFF/HPO in military health education efforts and to identify areas for improvement. METHODS: An education workgroup of 42 attendees gathered to discuss the current state of TFF/HPO-based health education in the military. Four questions were posed to all members for discussion. Notes were taken and consolidated to obtain feedback and promote discussion from the attendees in a larger audience at the TFF Summit. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The education workgroup identified several education formats, goals, initiatives, and opportunities for improving the development and dissemination of TFF/HPO-based health education throughout the Services. Workgroup members reached a consensus on health education formats (development, dissemination, and audience) and that the primary goal of education is knowledge dissemination and increasing awareness. They also identified several stellar examples of existing TFF/HPO initiatives and explored how health education can increase impact and be more sustainable. The workgroup outcomes were shared with the TFF Summit audience to generate further discussion and to outline action items. Seven action items were identified to improve the development and dissemination of TFF/HPO resources and ensure productive and effective initiatives and programs throughout the Department of Defense. CONCLUSIONS: The TFF Summit outlined several actionable items that would improve the development and dissemination of TFF/HPO-based health education throughout the Department of Defense's initiatives and programs. A broader approach to military health education that uses a TFF/HPO framework will directly impact the health and performance of the force. Ultimately, embedding TFF/HPO information into the fabric of military health education would shift the focus toward a holistic, proactive, preventive, and performance-based culture.

The impact of resilience on the mental health of military personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic: coping styles and regulatory focus.

Military personnel encountered multiple stressful events during the COVID-19 lockdown. Reducing non-combat attrition due to mental disorders is crucial for military morale and combat effectiveness. Grounded in stress theory and regulatory focus theory, this study investigates the influence of resilience on military personnel's mental health; coping style and regulatory focus are considered potential mediators and moderators, respectively. We conducted a routine psychological assessment on 1,110 military personnel in China. The results indicate that: (1) resilience has a negative impact on the psychological symptoms of military groups; (2) mature and mixed coping styles in military personnel mediate the association between resilience and psychological symptoms; and (3) regulatory focus predominance has a negative moderating effect on mature coping styles' effects on psychological symptoms. Furthermore, this study supports previous findings that resilience and mental health are interrelated; it demonstrates that military personnel can effectively reduce negative psychological symptoms by improving their resilience level and adopting mature coping styles under stressful situations. The current study presents interventional insights regarding coping styles and mental health from a self-regulatory perspective during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizational affective commitment effects on militaries' well-being during a deployment: A study of a peacekeeping mission.

Based on the Conservation of Resources Theory, this longitudinal study analyzes the contribution of organizational affective commitment during the preparation phase of a peacekeeping mission (T1) to explain the well-being of soldiers during that mission (T2). A sample of 409 Brazilian army participants in the MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) was used in two waves - preparation of the troops in Brazil, and their deployment in Haitian territory. The data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. The results supported organizational affective commitment during the preparation phase (T1) positively predicting the general well-being (perception of health and general satisfaction with life) of these soldiers during the deployment phase (T2). The workplace well-being (i.e. work engagement) of these peacekeepers was also found to mediate this relationship. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and limitations and suggestions for future research are presented.

Impact of performance-based budgeting on quality outcomes in U.S. military health care facilities.

BACKGROUND: Performance-based budgeting (PBB) is a variation of pay for performance that has been used in government hospitals but could be applicable to any integrated system. It works by increasing or decreasing funding based on preestablished performance thresholds, which incentivizes organizations to improve performance. In late 2006, the U.S. Army implemented a PBB program that tied hospital-level funding decisions to performance on key cost and quality-related metrics. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of PBB on quality improvement in U.S. Army health care facilities. APPROACH: This study used a retrospective difference-in-differences analysis of data from two Defense Health Agency data repositories. The merged data set encompassed administrative, demographic, and performance information about 428 military health care facilities. Facility-level performance data on quality indicators were compared between 187 Army PBB facilities and a comparison group of 241 non-PBB Navy and Air Force facilities before and after program implementation. RESULTS: The Army's PBB programs had a positive impact on quality performance. Relative to comparison facilities, facilities that participated in PBB programs increased performance for over half of the indicators under investigation. Furthermore, performance was either sustained or continued to improve over 5 years for five of the six performance indicators examined long term. CONCLUSION: Study findings indicate that PBB may be an effective policy mechanism for improving facility-level performance on quality indicators. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study adds to the extant literature on pay for performance by examining the specific case of PBB. It demonstrates that quality performance can be influenced internally through centralized budgeting processes. Though specific to military hospitals, the findings might have applicability to other public and private sector hospitals who wish to incentivize performance internally in their organizational subunits through centralized budgeting processes.

Potential chemical risks from tattoos and their relevance to military health policy in the United States.

We summarize and consolidate disparate sources of information about the practice of tattooing and its potential implications for military population health and policy. Each branch of the United States military has policies about tattoos for service members, but these have varied over time and do not cover health protection. The number of veterans receiving disability payments and the cost of those payments has been rising over time; the broad category of skin conditions accounts for 11% of disability claims. Any additional factor, such as tattoos that may increase the occurrence of adverse skin reactions, can substantially impact veteran benefit expenses and budgets. This may be a consideration for the military as it evaluates its policies related to tattoos among service members.

Risk and Protective Factors for Cancer Mortality among United States Service Members and Veterans (2001-2018).

BACKGROUND: Prior research linking military factors with cancer-specific mortality has shown inconsistent findings, with few studies examining these associations among U.S. service members and veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom conflicts. METHODS: Cancer mortality between 2001 and 2018 was ascertained from the Department of Defense Medical Mortality Registry and National Death Index for 194,689 Millennium Cohort Study participants. Cause-specific Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine links between military characteristics and cancer mortality [overall, early (<45 years), and lung]. RESULTS: Compared with individuals who deployed with no combat experiences, non-deployers had a greater risk of overall [HR = 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-1.77] and early cancer mortality (HR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.06-3.04). Enlisted individuals had a greater risk of lung cancer mortality compared with officers (HR = 2.65; 95% CI = 1.27-5.53). No associations by service component, branch, or military occupation and cancer mortality were observed. Higher education was associated with reduced overall, early and lung cancer mortality risk and smoking and life stressors were associated with elevated overall and lung cancer mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with the healthy deployer effect in which military personnel who were deployed tend to be healthier than those who did not deploy. Further, these findings highlight the importance of considering socioeconomic factors, such as military rank, that may have long-term implications for health. IMPACT: These findings highlight military occupational factors that may predict long-term health outcomes. Additional work is necessary to investigate more nuanced environmental and occupational military exposures and cancer mortality.

Investigation of health literacy status and related influencing factors in military health providers of Chinese People's liberation Army, a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate health literacy and analyze its influencing factors in military health providers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA Army). METHODS: From November to December 2018, cluster sampling was used to select 1512 military health providers from the Army Medical University. Health literacy was measured by using the Chinese Citizen Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) (2015 edition). Influencing factors that may affect health literacy were assessed using the chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: The knowledge rate of health literacy was relatively low (21.6%). The knowledge rate of health-related skills (HRS, 18.7%) was the lowest of the three aspects of health literacy, and the knowledge rate of chronic diseases (CD, 19.6%) was the lowest of the six dimensions of health literacy. Participants who were older, were female, were of Han ethnicity, were the only child in their families, came from urban areas, never used tobacco, and had higher household income were likely to have higher health literacy. CONCLUSION: The health literacy levels of military health providers of the PLA Army are relatively low. Further research and health education are necessary to improve health literacy.

Physiological biomarker monitoring during arduous military training: Maintaining readiness and performance.

OBJECTIVES: Physiological and psychological stressors can degrade soldiers' readiness and performance during military training and operational environments. Integrative and holistic assessments of biomarkers across diverse human performance optimization domains during multistressor training can be leveraged to provide actionable insight to military leadership regarding service member health and readiness. DESIGN/METHOD: A broad categorization of biomarkers, to include biochemical measures, bone and body composition, psychometric assessments, movement screening, and physiological load can be incorporated into robust analytical pipelines for understanding the complex factors that impact military human performance. RESULTS: In this perspective commentary we overview the rationale, selection, and methodologies for monitoring biomarker domains that are relevant to military research and specifically highlight methods that have been incorporated in a research program funded by the Office of Naval Research, Code 34 Biological and Physiological Monitoring and Modeling of Warfighter Performance. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of screening and continuous monitoring methodologies via robust analytical approaches will provide novel insight for military leaders regarding health, performance, and readiness outcomes during multistressor military training.

Relationship between self-reported and objectively measured physical fitness in young men and women.

Self-reported physical fitness has advantages in cost and time over objective methods, but previous studies demonstrate equivocal conclusions regarding validity. Methods for self-reporting are usually based on subjective judgements, while another approach includes performing field tests at home. The Norwegian military relies on the latter method for conscript selection, but its validity is unknown and should be investigated. In total 14,166 young men and women were included in the study. During conscript selection step one, the subjects were requested to perform 3,000 m run, push-up, pull-up and standing long jump tests at home, and report the results online ("self-reported measurements"). Step two took place at a conscript selection centre 1-18 months later. Here, the subjects completed a maximal treadmill test, seated medicine ball throw, pull-up and standing long jump tests ("objective measurements"). The results demonstrated correlation coefficients from 0.29 to 0.82 (P < 0.05) for self-reported vs. objective measurements, with the highest association found for self-reported and objectively measured pull-ups. Kappa values ranged from 0.05 to 0.34 (P < 0.05), with pull-ups demonstrating the highest agreement. More women than men over-reported their physical fitness. Among men and women indicating similar self-reported fitness, men's objective fitness was higher for all objective tests (effect sizes from 0.5 to 3.0). In conclusion, large variations in correlation coefficients were observed between self-reported and objectively measured physical fitness, while the kappa values indicated poor to fair agreement. The finding that more women than men over-reported their fitness level contradicts most previous studies.Highlights Low, moderate, and high correlations, and poor to fair agreements (kappa values), were observed between self-reported and objectively measured endurance and muscle strength variables.More women than men overreported their actual fitness level.Self-reported fitness based on performing field tests at home may be a feasible alternative to traditional methods which rely on self-perceived fitness.

Determining compliance with the COVID-19 daily symptom monitoring tool used to identify suspected COVID-19 workers of the military health support formation employees of the South African national defence force

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic had prompted governments in many countries to enact laws and policies to combat the spread of COVID-19 at work. The DEL required every worker to be screened when they arrived at work. Screening methods included self-reporting symptoms using a symptom monitoring tool. This study aimed to determine compliance with the symptom monitoring tool by assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the MHSF employees. Methods: a cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to the employees. Information related to demographic, COVID-19 exposure, knowledge of COVID-19 and the symptom monitoring tool, attitude towards the symptom monitoring tool and practices towards COVID-19 and the symptom monitoring tool was collected. Results: a total of 90 participants participated in the study. The majority (N=45; 50%) of respondents were aged between 30 and 39 years old, with more female (N=50) than male (N=40) participants. The majority (N=51; 56.7%) only had grade 12 as the highest level of education. There were 25% (N=10) of males and 20% (N=10) of females who contracted COVID-19. The relationship between the COVID-19 positive cases and the symptom monitoring tool identifying symptoms had a strong negative correlation (-0.932). Respondent's knowledge of COVID-19 and the symptom monitoring tool was moderate (72.4%), with the attitude to the symptom monitoring tool being moderate (63.3%) as well. However, the practices of the COVID-19 guidelines and the symptom monitoring tool were good (93.3%).

Public health and military health.

This paper summarizes the role of Public Health specialists within the UK Defence Medical Services (DMS). The armed forces have a need for expert advice on health improvement, health protection and healthcare public health. The first professor of military hygiene, Dr Edmund Parkes, was a leading pioneer in the public health movement of the late 19th century. Since then, the armed forces have evolved the term 'hygiene', though 'health', to 'well-being'. Military doctors with an interest in medical administration and the health of populations have longstanding links with their civilian peers, through the Society of Medical Officers of Health and its successor the Faculty of Public Health. The specialty of Public Health in the armed forces is multidisciplinary, following the same educational pathway as civilian peers. The speciality has made important contributions during global health emergencies including the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Although a small cadre, within the DMS and in the UK Public Health workforce, they have an important role in keeping our armed forces ready for operations. We celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Faculty of Public Health and expect that the DMS will contribute to the further development of the specialty.