IntroductionThe easiest way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is to wear earplugs. The Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense (MND) is supplying earplugs to prevent NIHL, but many patients still suffer from this. We speculated that earplugs would have a high NIHL rate, depending on the rate of use of earplugs, regardless of the rate of supply. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the relationship between the use of earplugs and hearing loss by ROK military personnel.MethodsThe study used data from the Military Health Survey conducted in 2014–2015, which included 13 470 questionnaires completed by ROK military personnel. Hearing loss and earplug use were self-reported. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between earplug use and hearing loss.ResultsThe study sample included 13 470 ROK military personnel (response rate of 71.2%) (Army, 8330 (61.8%); Navy/Marines, 2236 (16.6%); and Air Force, 2904 (21.6%)). Overall, 18.8% of Korean military personnel reported that they always wore earplugs, and 2.8% reported hearing loss. In logistic regression analysis, there were significant differences in the rates of hearing loss associated with wearing earplugs sometimes (OR=1.48, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.05) and never wearing earplugs (OR=1.53, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.10). In subgroup analysis, in Air Force, non-combat branch, forward area and long-term military service personnel increased hearing loss was associated with not wearing earplugs.ConclusionOur study confirmed that within the ROK military, there is an association between hearing loss and lack of earplug use. In the ROK MND, Army, Navy/Marines and Air Force headquarters must provide guidelines for the use of earplugs during field training to protect military personnel’s hearings and, if necessary, need to be regulated or institutionalised.
IntroductionAccording to data released by the Korea National Statistical Office, the number of accidents has been decreasing since 2012. However, a considerable number of deaths related to safety accidents (23–46 deaths) are still reported annually. This study aimed to observe the correlation between accident prevention activities in the Republic of Korea (ROK) military and the incidence of safety accidents.MethodsThe study used data from the 2014–2015 Military Health Survey and included 13 618 responses (Army: 8414 (61.8%); Navy/Marine: 2262 (16.6%); Air Force: 2942 (21.6%)) from the ROK military personnel. Accident experiences and thoughts on accident prevention activities were self-reported. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the validity of accident prevention activity and accident experience.ResultsOf the 13 618 military personnel who responded, 12.0% reported experiencing safety accidents in the military and 1020 (7.5%) felt that accident prevention activities in the military were insufficient. On logistic regression analysis, we found a significant difference (insufficiency OR=1.56, CI 1.31 to 1.86). In particular, military personnel who belong to the Army and Navy were more likely to think that accident prevention activities were insufficient. In addition, military personnel who experienced falls/slips, crash, and laceration/puncture wound/amputation/penetrating wound accidents were more likely to think accident prevention activities were insufficient.ConclusionsOur study found that accident prevention activities in the military and accident experiences were related. It is necessary for the ROK Ministry of Defense, Army, Navy and Air Force headquarters to re-evaluate their accident prevention systems.
Introduction The National Statistical Yearbook of Defense 2018 issued by the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense reported that the number of patients using military hospitals steadily increased from 2008 to 2017. However, in the outpatient clinic statistics for years 2015–2017 from the ROK Armed Forces Medical Command, the amount of medical care received from some medical departments, such as the infection medicine, surgery, and anesthesiology departments, decreased. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to observe the differences in incidence of military personnel’s unmet healthcare needs according to number of diseases by type. Materials and Methods The study used data from the Military Health Survey, which was conducted from 2014 to 2015 and included 5162 responses from ROK military personnel. The number of diseases by type and unmet healthcare needs were self-reported. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the validity of the annual disease experience by type and correlations with unmet healthcare needs. Results Of the 5162 military personnel, 25.2% experienced unmet healthcare needs, and the more people with the number of disease by type, the more likely they were to experience unmet healthcare needs (1: 13.4%, 2: 22.9%, 3: 29.2%, 4: 34.5%, 5: 41.4%). The logistic regression analysis also revealed significant differences (1 = REF, 2 odds ratio (OR) = 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.50–2.24; 3 OR = 2.53, 95% CI: 2.05–3.11, 4 OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 2.49–3.85; ≥5 OR = 3.85, 95% CI = 3.08–4.81). In addition, subgroup analysis showed that female military personnel are more likely to experience unmet healthcare needs than are male military personnel. We have also confirmed that working areas and private insurance can affect unmet healthcare needs. Conclusion This study suggests that unmet healthcare needs are influenced by the number of disease by the type of ROK military personnel. It is therefore necessary to strive to reduce the number of military personnel who experience unmet healthcare needs through this data.
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